The Merchant of Venice
5th April 1984
Royal Shakespeare Theatre, RSC
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.
The Merchant of Venice
| Written by | William Shakespeare |
Creative team
| 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 |
Cast
| 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 |
Musicians
| Organ | Michael Tubbs / Roger Hellyer |
| Recorder | Ian Reynolds |