The first performance of this production was at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon on 5th April, 1984. It played in repertoire in Stratford throughout the 1984-1985 season.
Before the play began the organists performed a selection pieces by the following composers:
Merulo, Diruta, Casini, Aldrovandini, Frescobaldi, Pasquini, A Gabrieli, Maschera and Zipoli.
| Written by | William Shakespeare |
| Directed by | John Caird |
| Designed by | Ultz |
| Lighting by | Robert Bryan |
| Music by | Ilona Sekacz |
| Company Voice Work by | Cicely Berry and David Carey |
| Assistant Director | Alison Sutcliffe |
| Design Assistant | Jill Jowett |
| Music Director | Michael Tubbs |
| Stage Manager | Stella Bond |
| Deputy Stage Manager | Philip Mac Donald / Michael Stanislaw |
| Assistant Stage Manager | Kate Trevers |
| The Duke of Venice | Richard Easton |
| Antonio, a merchant | Christopher Ravenscroft |
| Salerio | Jim Hooper |
| Solanio | Ian Mackenzie |
| Bassanio | Adam Bareham |
| Gratiano | James Simmons |
| Lorenzo | Simon Templeman |
| Servants to Bassanio | Andy Readman/Jonathan Scott-Tayler |
| Shylock | Ian McDiarmid |
| Jessica, his daughter | Amanda Root |
| Tubal, his friend | Sebastian Shaw |
| Launcelot Gobbo, his servant | Brian Parr |
| Old Gobbo, Launcelot’s father | John Rogan |
| Gaoler | Andy Readman |
| Clerk of the Court | Jonathan Scott-Taylor |
| Ghost of Portia’s Father | Richard Easton |
| Portia | Frances Tomelty |
| Nerissa | Josette Simon |
| Balthasar | Stephen Simms |
| Stephano | David Phelan |
| The Prince of Morocco | Hepburn Graham |
| The Prince of Aragon | Martin Jacobs |
| Organ | Michael Tubbs / Roger Hellyer |
| Recorder | Ian Reynolds |
| Portia | Kate Buffery |
| Arragon / Antonio | Jim Hooper |
| Old Gobbo / Duke of Venice / Tubal | Donald McKillop |
| Gratiano / Morocco | David Phelan |
| Jonathan Scott-Taylor | Lorenzo / Solanio |
| Bassanio | Stephen Simms |
| Nerissa | Cathy Tyson |
Production Acknowledgements
| Scenery, painting, properties, costumes and wigs made in the | RST Workshops, Stratford-upon-Avon |
| Other scenery by | Ken Crazy Limited / Bert Richaman Limited / Mark Davies |
| Silk screen painting by | David Jamison Print / Slade Crest Limited |
| Additional costumes by | Doreen Brown |
| Embroidery by | St John Roper |
| Our thanks to | Professor Raphael Loewe of the Department of Hebrew and Jewish Studies, University College London for his kind assistance |
| Production photographs by | Donald Cooper |
| Special thanks to | Professor Chimen Abramsky of the Department of Hebrew and Jewish Studies at University College, London, for his invaluable help in compiling the programme |
| Programme compiled and edited by | Ellen Goodman |
| Programme designed by | Cabbell Publishing Limited |
