Cleopatra's allure
Harriet Walter (Cleopatra) reclines on blankets as she rehearses first scene.
- Act and Scene
- Credit
- Ellie Kurttz
- Date
- 2006-01-13
- Copyright
- © RSC 2006
Fortune-telling
Chris Jarman (The Soothsayer) rehearses with Golda Rosheuvel (Charmian), watched by Cleopatra's attendands (Ravi Aujla, Allyson Brown and Julian Bleach).
- Act and Scene
- Credit
- Ellie Kurttz
- Date
- 2006-01-13
- Copyright
- © RSC 2006
Cleopatra's attendants
Harriet Walter (Cleopatra) rehearses a scene with her attendants (Allyson Brown, Emma Jay Thomas and Golda Rosheuvel).
- Act and Scene
- Credit
- Ellie Kurttz
- Date
- 2006-01-13
- Copyright
- © RSC 2006
Drinking games
The company rehearse the barge scene. Director Gregory Doran explained that the soldiers are relaxing because they've averted a war.
- Act and Scene
- Credit
- Ellie Kurttz
- Date
- 2006-01-13
- Copyright
- © RSC 2006
Out of control
Gregory Doran wanted the barge scene to look like it might get out of control. Ariyon Bakare (Pompey) embraces this idea by tipping a bowl of water over himself.
- Act and Scene
- Credit
- Ellie Kurttz
- Date
- 2006-01-13
- Copyright
- © RSC 2006
Down in one
John Hopkins rehearses Caesar's relunctant participation in the drinking games. In the theatre, the table tops on the floor will be hung from the flies so they sway, as if on a ship.
- Act and Scene
- Credit
- Ellie Kurttz
- Date
- 2006-01-13
- Copyright
- © RSC 2006
Bacchanalian spirit
Gregory Doran encouraged the actors to engage in the 'Bacchanalian spirit' which leads to the dance at the end of the barge scene.
- Act and Scene
- Credit
- Ellie Kurttz
- Date
- 2006-01-13
- Copyright
- © RSC 2006
With gusto
Luke Neal and David Rubin rehearse the dance at the end of the barge scene. Initially the dance involved complex clapping rhythms but the actors were happy when Movement Director Michael Ashcroft simplified it!
- Act and Scene
- Credit
- Ellie Kurttz
- Date
- 2006-01-13
- Copyright
- © RSC 2006
To my cabin!
At the end of barge scene, Menas (David Rubin, right) invites Enorbarbus (Ken Bones) onto his barge. The text can be read to imply a homosexual relationship - but this production does not emphasise this.
- Act and Scene
- Credit
- Ellie Kurttz
- Date
- 2006-01-13
- Copyright
- © RSC 2006
Cleopatra's palace
The company rehearse arrangements for Act 1 Scene 1.
- Act and Scene
- Credit
- Ellie Kurttz
- Date
- 2006-01-13
- Copyright
- © RSC 2006
Pompey
Ariyon Bakare plays Pompey in this production but he broke his leg during rehearsals. Peter de Jersey - who can be seen in the production photo gallery - stood in for Ariyon while he recovered.
- Act and Scene
- Credit
- Ellie Kurttz
- Date
- 2006-01-13
- Copyright
- © RSC 2006
Supporting Cleopatra
Harriet Walter (Cleopatra), Golda Rosheuvel (Charmian) and Emma Jay Thomas (Iras) rehearse the scene where Cleopatra finds out that Antony has married Octavia.
- Act and Scene
- Credit
- Ellie Kurttz
- Date
- 2006-01-13
- Copyright
- © RSC 2006
The Parthian scene
Joseph Alessi (Ventidius) and Rob Carroll (Silius) initially played this scene (Act 3 Scene 1) upbeat but after investigating the text, they realised these soldiers would be exhausted. Often this scene is cut.
- Act and Scene
- Credit
- Ellie Kurttz
- Date
- 2006-01-13
- Copyright
- © RSC 2006
Developing chemistry
Gregory Doran watches the chemistry develop between his Antony and Cleopatra as Patrick Stewart and Harriet Walter rehearse. Behind the desks, Greg's team watches supportively, rather than critically.
- Act and Scene
- Credit
- Ellie Kurttz
- Date
- 2006-01-13
- Copyright
- © RSC 2006
Emotionally involved
Gregory Doran was seen to have a tear in his eye as he watched the chemistry develop between his Antony and Cleopatra (Patrick Stewart and Harriet Walter)! Behind him is Steve Marmion, Assistant Director.
- Act and Scene
- Credit
- Ellie Kurttz
- Date
- 2006-01-13
- Copyright
- © RSC 2006
