In focus: John Barton and Barry Kyle 1976

John Barton's third production of Troilus and Cressida for the company was co-directed by Barry Kyle and emphasised the play's ambiguities.

A diseased man with sores on his face, wearing rags and feathers, holds his hands aloft and holds a letter with seal
John Nettles as Thersites, Troilus and Cressida, 1976, Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Photo by Reg Wilson © RSC Browse and license our images

SIGNATURE PLAY

Troilus and Cressida came to be regarded by many as John Barton's 'signature' play. He directed the two previous productions for the company in 1960 and 1968. Fascinated by narrative sagas like the Trojan War, Barton went on to direct a multi-play cycle The Greeks for the RSC in 1980.

TRUE TO NATURE

For his 1976 production with Barry Kyle, Barton chose to highlight the shifting ambiguities of the play: "again and again, a character who seems to be foolish or cruel or stupid turns up with something completely the opposite to one's first view of him, and that seems to me not a chaotic view of human nature but a truthful and realistic one" Programme Notes.

WARS AND LECHERY

Barton's interpretation for the 1976 production was based on the key line "Lechery, lechery, still wars and lechery" Thersites, Act 5 Scene 2.

INHERITED FEATURES

Inevitably critics compared the 1976 production with Barton's previous ones and pointed out repeated features like the virtually naked Trojans fighting in slow-motion and the overt effeminacy of Achilles and Pandarus.

PRODUCTION PHOTOS

Francesca Annis as Cressida, 1976, Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Photo by Tom Holte Theatre Photographic Collection © Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Browse and license our images

David Waller as Pandarus, Troilus and Cressida, 1976, Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Photo by Reg Wilson © RSC Browse and license our images

Robin Ellis as reluctant warrior Achilles, Troilus and Cressida, 1976, Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Photo by Reg Wilson © RSC Browse and license our images

Pandarus (David Waller, centre) brings together Troilus (Mike Gwilym) and Cressida (Francesca Annis), 1976, Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Photo by Reg Wilson © RSC Browse and license our images

Cressida (Francesca Annis) and Troilus (Mike Gwilym), 1976, Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Photo by Reg Wilson © RSC Browse and license our images

Pandarus (David Waller) and Helen (Barbara Leigh-Hunt), Troilus and Cressida, 1976, Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Photo by Reg Wilson © RSC Browse and license our images

Ulysses (Tony Church) and Cressida (Francesca Annis), 1976, Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Photo by Reg Wilson © RSC Browse and license our images

Andromache (Meg Davies) and Cassandra (Barbara Shelley) appeal to Priam, Troilus and Cressida, 1976, Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Photo by Reg Wilson © RSC Browse and license our images

Hector (Michael Pennington) and his wife Andromache (Meg Davies), Troilus and Cressida, 1976, Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Photo by Reg Wilson © RSC Browse and license our images

Troilus (Mike Gwilym) is ready for battle, 1976, Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

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John Nettles as a leprous Thersites, Troilus and Cressida, 1976, Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Photo by Reg Wilson © RSC Browse and license our images
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REHEARSAL PHOTOS

Mike Gwilym (Troilus), David Waller (Pandarus) and Francesca Annis (Cressida) in rehearsals, 1976, Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Photo by Reg Wilson © RSC Browse and license our images

Brian Coburn (Ajax) and Robin Ellis (Achilles) in rehearsals, 1976, Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Photo by Reg Wilson © RSC Browse and license our images

Mike Gwilym (Troilus) in rehearsals, 1976, Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Photo by Reg Wilson © RSC Browse and license our images

Paul Shelley (Diomedes) and Mike Gwilym (Troilus, far right) rehearsing a fight, 1976, Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Photo by Reg Wilson © RSC Browse and license our images

Tony Church (Ulysses) and Robin Ellis (Achilles) in rehearsals, 1976, Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Photo by Reg Wilson © RSC Browse and license our images

Brian Coburn (Ajax) and John Nettles (Thersites) in rehearsals, 1976, Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Photo by Reg Wilson © RSC Browse and license our images
Launch Gallery

FIGHT SCENES

John Barton was an accomplished fight director and was responsible for creating some memorable stage combat. In the following gallery you can discover the step-by-step fight plot for Hector and Ajax's duel and production photos from the scene.

HECTOR AND AJAX'S DUEL

Watched by the Greeks and Trojans, Hector (Michael Pennington) and Ajax (Brian Coburn) duel, Troilus and Cressida, 1976, Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Photo by Reg Wilson © RSC Browse and license our images

The opening page of the fight plot for Hector and Ajax's duel in Troilus anfd Cressida, 1976, Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Directed by John Barton and Barry Kyle © RSC Browse and license our images

Ajax (Brian Coburn) lunges at Hector (Michael Pennington), Troilus and Cressida, 1976, Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Photo by Reg Wilson © RSC Browse and license our images

A page from the fight plot for Hector and Ajax's duel in Troilus and Cressida, 1976, Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Directed by John Barton and Barry Kyle © RSC Browse and license our images

Hector (Michael Pennington) defends himself from Ajax's (Brian Coburn) attack, Troilus and Cressida, 1976, Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Photo by Reg Wilson © RSC Browse and license our images

A page from the fight plot for Hector and Ajax's duel in Troilus and Cressida, 1976, Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Directed by John Barton and Barry Kyle © RSC Browse and license our images

Hector (Michael Pennington) and Ajax (Brian Coburn) cross swords in a duel, Troilus and Cressida, 1976, Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Photo by Reg Wilson © RSC Browse and license our images

A page from the fight plot for Hector and Ajax's duel in Troilus and Cressida, 1976, Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Directed by John Barton and Barry Kyle © RSC Browse and license our images

Hector (Michael Pennington) lunges at Ajax (Brian Coburn) as they duel, Troilus and Cressida, 1976, Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Photo by Reg Wilson © RSC Browse and license our images

A page from the fight plot for Hector and Ajax's duel in Troilus and Cressida, 1976, Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Directed by John Barton and Barry Kyle © RSC Browse and license our images
Launch Gallery

CHRIS DYER'S DESIGNS

The production was staged on the fixed wooden set designed by Chris Dyer and John Napier for the entire 1976 season at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. It consisted of a jutting hexagonal stage and vertical beams, the bases of which in this production were sometimes decorated with large grotesque masks.

CLASSICAL COSTUMES

The costumes designed by Dyer were generally classical. When Cressida arrived in the Greek camp, she was dressed like a courtesan (prostitute) of the period. Some of the warriors, like Hector, wore elaborate plumed helmets, although in the case of the Trojans very little else.

Grotesque greek mask with bulging eye sockets, hair made from sacking and a long snaking protruding tongue
Mask from the 1976 Troilus and Cressida set, Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
Designed by Chris Dyer © RSC Browse and license our images

DESIGN GALLERY

The fixed timber-framed set designed by Chris Dyer and John Napier for the 1976 season at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and used for Troilus and Cressida.

Photo by Joe Cocks Studio Collection © Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Browse and license our images

Thersites (John Nettles) insults Achilles (Robin Ellis) and Patroclus (Paul Moriarty), 1976, Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Note the masks designed by Chris Dyer on the ground at the back of the stage, which could be lit for an eerie effect.

Photo by Reg Wilson © RSC Browse and license our images

Cressida (Francesca Annis) meets Achilles (Robin Ellis) and Patroclus (Paul Moriarty), 1976, Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Cressida's striking costume, designed by Chris Dyer,  resembles that of an ancient Greek courtesan (prostitute).

Photo by Reg Wilson © RSC Browse and license our images

King Priam (Dennis Clinton) presides over his Trojan court, 1976, Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Chris Dyer designed the sets and costumes including the amazing animal heads worn by the participants in the ritual.

Photo by Tom Holte Theatre Photographic Collection © Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Browse and license our images

The set for the Trojan court, designed by Chris Dyer, 1976, Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Photo by Tom Holte Theatre Photographic Collection © Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Browse and license our images

A design sketch by Chris Dyer for Trojan deckchairs used in Troilus and Cressida, 1977, Aldwych Theatre (London transfer).

Designed by Chris Dyer © RSC Browse and license our images

Achilles (Robin Ellis) holds up Hector's helmet after the Myrmidons have killed him, Troilus and Cressida, 1976, Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Note the large cello-shaped shields behind which the shadowy Myrmidons stand.

Photo by Tom Holte Theatre Photographic Collection © Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Browse and license our images
Launch Gallery
Theatrical programme cover for Troilus and Cressida 1976, featuring a fine-line sketch of a classical female

CAST AND CREATIVES

COMPANY

Royal Shakespeare Theatre

Francesca Annis - Cressida

Ivan Beavis – Agamemnon

Marjorie Bland – Unnamed parts

Paul Brooke - Alexander

Tony Church - Ulysses

Dennis Clinton - Priam

Brian Coburn - Ajax

Meg Davies - Andromache

Richard Durden - Paris

Robin Ellis - Achilles

Nickolas Grace - Aeneas

Richard Griffiths - Paris' Servant

Pippa Guard – Unnamed parts

Mike Gwilym - Troilus

Greg Hicks – Unnamed parts

Barbara Leigh-Hunt - Helen

David Lyon – Margarelon, Prologue (alt)

Paul Moriarty - Patroclus

John Nettles – Thersites, Prologue (alt)

Michael Pennington - Hector

Clyde Pollitt - Calchas

Leonard Preston - Antenor

Barbara Shelley - Cassandra

Paul Shelley - Diomedes

Keith Taylor – Prologue (alt)

Norman Tyrrell - Nestor

Frances Viner – Unnamed parts

David Waller - Pandarus

Paul Whitworth - Helenus

Jacob Witkin – Menelaus, Prologue (alt)

Peter Woodward - Deiphobus

 

CREATIVES

 

Directors – John Barton, Barry Kyle

Designer – Chris Dyer

Lighting Designer – Clive Morris

Choreographer – Anna Raphael

Music – Guy Woolfenden

 

The RSC's archive is held at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. You can visit the Library and Archives there to look at production related information, including photos, videos of shows and stage management documents:

Shakespeare Centre Library and Archive homepage

You can search the RSC catalogue here: 

RSC performance database

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