A History of the RSC in 50 Objects (Online)

COSTUME WORN BY MICHAEL WILLIAMS

The Comedy of Errors, 1976

Director:  Trevor Nunn

Designer:  John Napier

This was a musical production of The Comedy of Errors with music by Guy Woolfenden. The lyrics were firmly rooted in Shakespeare's text and the songs were built upon turning points in the plot.

This costume was worn by Michael Williams (1935 – 2001) who played Dromio of Ephesus. Williams had married Judi Dench in 1971, and she also appeared in this production as Adriana.

One commentator said that the audience reacted with 'almost inebriated pleasure' to the production. He thought that this sort of light-hearted entertainment struck a chord during the economic depression of the 1970s.