Cast and credits for the 1996 prologue season.


In the latter part of the Summer of 1996 the Globe company staged its first regular performances. The theatre was still uncompleted; the stage a lightweight and temporary affair, the foyer a bare concrete walled chamber, and the piazza a building site. Yet, despite these seeming inconveniences the Prologue season proved to be an overwhelming success, and paved the way for the formal opening the following year.

The season ran for only a few all too short weeks, but still made a lasting impression on everyone who was lucky enough to be there at the time. Following its success in London, the company went on to perform the same play in a specially adapted theatre in New York.


Two Gentlemen of Verona

by William Shakespeare.
Steven Alvey - Host / Thurio
Graham Brown - Eglamour / Panthino
Jim Bywater - Launce
Mel Cobb - Host
Anastasia Hille - Silvia
George Innes - Antonio / Thurio
Lennie James - Valentine
Aicha Kossoko - Lucetta
Stephanie Roth - Julia
Mark Rylance - Proteus
Matthew Scurfield - Duke of Milan / Antonio
Ben Walden - Speed


During one of the final dress rehearsals, George Innes suffered a broken ankle and as a result was replaced for several of the performances. He subsequently returned to the show, first in a wheelchair and then on crutches, showing incredable bravery and determination. I have tried to include all the alterations in the casting of various parts above. However my memory may be faulty, so I will take this opportunity to apologise for any mistakes. If anyone spots a mistake, on this page or any other, then I urge you to let me know, so that I may correct it.

The Two Gentlemen of Verona was chosen to be the first play to be performed at the new Globe theatre because it is a play about friendship. Also, since it is one of the less well known plays the audience had fewer preconceptions. It was performed in modern dress, which usually puts me off a play immediately, but somehow in this case it didn't. Maybe it was down to the fact that it was the first play I'd seen at the Globe, maybe because the company did it so very well despite somewhat primative conditions, but more probably a combination of the two. Either way it has altered a very long held prejudice of mine.

I attended only a few performances, once as a paying member of the audience and maybe half a dozen times as a volunteer steward, yet even now over three years and many hundreds of other performances later I can still hear the voices of that cast and see the expressions on their faces.


To return to the Past Productions page follow this link...
Return to Globe title Page

This page first appeared in May 1998.

Last update by R. Thomson - 17th November 1999.

Please note that I am not an official representative of the Globe Theatre or the International Shakespeare's Globe Centre. Please read my disclaimer.

© 1998 webmaster@angband.demon.co.uk