Teachers' notes [PDF 350K]

download

Activities for teaching Antony and Cleopatra, based on RSC rehearsal room practice. (You need PDF reader software.)

thumbnail

  • Why did you decide to stage Antony in The Swan and not the RST?
  • Your production is neither Elizabethan nor Elizabeth Taylor! How did you arrive at the style?
  • What attracted you to directing this play?
  • What did you look for when you cast Antony and Cleopatra?
  • Antony Sher once said that Antony bored him but he'd like to play Cleopatra! Why do you think there are more women keen to play Cleopatra than men to play Antony?
  • The RSC didn't originally stage Antony often, but now it seems to be part of the repertoire. Why?
  • Many productions cut the Parthian scene. Why did you decide to keep it?
  • Why did you decide to have Pacorus killed with an arrow?
  • Why did you decide to use a real snake?
  • Is Cleopatra an unusual character in Shakespeare's writing? Are there others like her?
  • How did you tackle showing the 'middle-aged' passion of Antony and Cleopatra?
  • Do you think directors have to decide whether Cleopatra is tawdry or wonderful?
  • Did you examine any of Shakespeare's sources?
  • Do you think Cleopatra was with Antony for love? Or other reasons…?
  • Some people think Act 5 is a flaw of this play. What do you think?
  • What do you think is the role of Enorbarbus?
  • What do we learn from Enobarbus' defection and death?
  • How did you deal with the fact that the audience knows that Antony and Cleopatra will die?

Why did you decide to stage Antony in The Swan and not the RST?

Act and Scene
Credit
Date
2006-04-18
Copyright
© RSC 2006

What attracted you to directing this play?

Act and Scene
Credit
Date
2006-04-18
Copyright
© RSC 2006

What did you look for when you cast Antony and Cleopatra?

Act and Scene
Credit
Date
2006-04-18
Copyright
© RSC 2006

Many productions cut the Parthian scene. Why did you decide to keep it?

Act and Scene
Credit
Date
2006-04-18
Copyright
© RSC 2006

Why did you decide to have Pacorus killed with an arrow?

Act and Scene
Credit
Date
2006-04-18
Copyright
© RSC 2006

Why did you decide to use a real snake?

Act and Scene
Credit
Date
2006-04-18
Copyright
© RSC 2006

Is Cleopatra an unusual character in Shakespeare's writing? Are there others like her?

Act and Scene
Credit
Date
2006-04-18
Copyright
© RSC 2006

How did you tackle showing the 'middle-aged' passion of Antony and Cleopatra?

Act and Scene
Credit
Date
2006-04-18
Copyright
© RSC 2006

Do you think directors have to decide whether Cleopatra is tawdry or wonderful?

Act and Scene
Credit
Date
2006-04-18
Copyright
© RSC 2006

Did you examine any of Shakespeare's sources?

Act and Scene
Credit
Date
2006-04-18
Copyright
© RSC 2006

Do you think Cleopatra was with Antony for love? Or other reasons…?

Act and Scene
Credit
Date
2006-04-18
Copyright
© RSC 2006

Some people think Act 5 is a flaw of this play. What do you think?

Act and Scene
Credit
Date
2006-04-18
Copyright
© RSC 2006

What do you think is the role of Enorbarbus?

Act and Scene
Credit
Date
2006-04-18
Copyright
© RSC 2006

What do we learn from Enobarbus' defection and death?

Act and Scene
Credit
Date
2006-04-18
Copyright
© RSC 2006

How did you deal with the fact that the audience knows that Antony and Cleopatra will die?

Act and Scene
Credit
Date
2006-04-18
Copyright
© RSC 2006

These clips are taken from a recording of the Creative Team Talk public event on 18 April 2006 in the Swan Theatre. Interview by Carol Rutter.

Download: transcript [PDF]

My Playlist close [x]