Cast and credits for the 1999 season.

Once again the Red Rose and White Rose companies have been formed. The first two plays of the season were "Julius Caesar" staged by the Red company, and "A Comedy of Errors" staged by the White company. Two more plays; "Anthony and Cleopatra" and "Augustine's Oak" started in August.

Julius Caesar

by William Shakespeare.

A group of senators jealous of the rising popularity of Julius Caesar with the common people of Rome hatch a plot to assasinate him hoping that the republic will return to normalcy with his death. They recruit the popular but naive Brutus to their cause, but grossly underestimate the threat posed to them by Caesar's ally and friend Mark Antony.

Cast

Richard Bremmer - Cassius

Toby Cockerell - Portia / Octavius Caesar / Anthony's Servant

Timothy Davies - Cinna / Lepidus

Jimmy Gardner - Clitus / Soothsayer / Poet

Roger Gartland - Caius Ligarius / Cicero / Cinna the Poet

James Gillian - Lucius / Young Cato / Publius

Liam Hourican - Trebonius / Claudio / Dardanius / Cobbler / Servant to Caesar

Mark Lewis Jones - Mark Anthony

Terence Maynard - Metellus Cymber / Varrus / Volumnius / Flavius

Quill Roberts - Artemidorus / Pindarus / Carpenter

Michael Rudko - Casca / Messala

Danny Sapani - Marcus Brutus

Paul Shelley - Strato / Julius Caesar / Ghost of Caesar

Ben Walden - Decius Brutus / Murellus / Titinius

Benedict Wong - Lucillius / Calpurnia / Popillius Lena / Octavius Caesar's Servant

Musicians

Martin Allen - Percussion

Stephen Cassidy - Bagpipes / Shawm

Michael Gregory - Percussion

Tom Hammond - Trombone

Michael Lawlor - Shawm / Wind

Tom Lees - Trombone

Keith McGowan - Bagpipes / Shawm

Nicholas Perry - Shawm / Wind

Jamie Savah - Cornett / Trumpet

Paul Sharp - Cornett / Trumpet

Richard Thomas - Cornett / Trumpet

Adrian Woodwood - Cornett / Trumpet

Powers that Be

Mark Rylance - Master of Play

Giles Block - Master of Verse

Jenny Tiramani - Master of Clothing and Properties

Claire Van Kampen - Master of Music

Terry King - Master of Fights

Sue Lefton - Master of Dance

Peter Bridgmont - Master of Voice

Jeannette Nelson - Master of Voice

A Comedy of Errors

by William Shakespeare.

Two sets of twin brothers, one pair servants to the others are seperated as the result of a ship wreck while children. Many years later Antipholus and his servant Dromio arrive in a coastal town which unbeknowest to them is the home the rich and respected merchant Antipholus and his servant Dromio. Disguising themselves as locals to avoid the strict trade sanctions of the town, the newcomers seperate and quickly become involved in the lives of their doubles. The results are both complex and hillarious.

Cast

Paul Chahidi - Angelo

Avril Clark - Abbess / Emilia

Harry Gostelow - Dr Pinch

Leader Hawkins - Headsman / Gaoler

Jan Knightley - First Merchant / Servant

Marcello Magni - Dromio / Dromio

Terence McGinity - Balthazar / Second Merchant

Jules Melvin - Luciana

Vincenzo Nicoli - Antipholus / Antipholus

Robert Pickavance - Egeon

Philippa Stanton - Luce / Courtesan

Richard Trahair - Servant

Martin Turner - Duke Solinus

Yolanda Vazquez - Adriana

Musicians

Bill Badley - Cumbus / Oud

Steve Bentley-Klein - Violin

Dave Bitelli - Clarinet

Keith Clouston - Cumbus / Oud

Michael Gregory - Percussion

Phil Hopkins - Percussion

William Lyons - Bagpipes / Bombard / Percussion / Shawm / Whistle

Keith McGowan - Bagpipes / Bombard / Percussion / Shawm / Whistle

Merlin Shepherd - Clarinet

Joe Townsend - Violin

Powers That Be

Kathryn Hunter - Master of Play

Tim Carroll - Master of Verse

Liz Cooke - Master of Design

Mia Soteriou - Master of Music

Marcello Magni - Master of Commedia

Anthony and Cleopatra

by William Shakespeare.

Mark Antony and Octavius Caesar have split the Roman Empire between then, but each are ambitious men and conflict is inevitable. War and tragedy follows.

Cast

Toby Cockerell - Octavia / Thidias / Varrius

Timothy Davies - Lepidus / Philo / Schoolmaster / Proculeius

Jimmy Gardner - Maecenas

Roger Gartland - Decretas / Soothsayer

James Gillian - Iras / Boy

Liam Hourican - Silius / Eros / Gallus / Menecrates

Mark Lewis Jones - Taurus / Diomedes / Sextus Pompeius

Terence Maynard - Demetrius / Agrippa

John McEnery - Enobarbus / Seleucus

Quill Roberts - Dolabella / Mardian

Michael Rudko - Ventidius / Alexas / Clown

Danny Sapani - Charmian

Paul Shelley - Mark Antony

Ben Walden - Octavius Caesar

Benedict Wong - Scarus / Menas

Augustine's Oak

by Peter Oswald.

Set in sixth century Britain Augustine's Oak tells of the arrival of Augustine, an emissary of Pope Gregory sent to bring Christianity of the largely Pagan inhabitants. Arriving in Kent, Augustine is met by King Ethelbert, who is a devoted worshipper of Wodan and his vehemently Christian wife, Queen Bertha. What follows is a light hearted, but truely beautiful retelling of the Christianisation of Britain, that has somehow managed to appeal to modern day pagans, christians and atheists alike.

Cast

Paul Chahidi - Albanus (Monk) / Loki / Northumbrian Priest

Avril Clark - Pagan Priest / Freya / Wessex Woman / Angel / Maid to Tata / Northumbrian

Harry Gostelow - Laurence (Monk) / Dinoth (Abbot of Bangor) / Northumbrian

Leader Hawkins - Aneirin the Bard

Jan Knightley - Severus (Monk) / Warrior / Northumbrian

Marcello Magni - Lilla / Pagan Priest

Terry McGinity - Augustine / Northumbrian

Jules Melvin - Olwen the Prophetess / Maid to Tata / Northumbrian

Vincenzo Nicoli - Athelstan / Bishop of Elwy / Warrior / Northumbrian / Lord

Sean O'Callaghan - Edwin

Robert Pickavance - Paulinus (Monk) / Pagen Priest / Woden

Philippa Stanton - Tata

Richard Trahair - Osbert / Bishop of St. Davids / Sacrificial Victim / Lord

Martin Turner - King Ethelbert of Kent

Yolanda Vazquez - Queen Bertha

Musicians

Dan Farrant - Percussion

Andy Hamill - Double Bass

Tristan Keyte - Harp

Andy Lewis - Double Bass

William Lyons - Wind

Arun Manji - Tabla

Sirish Manji - Tabla

Adrian Meehan - Percussion

Michael Sargeant - Wind

Powers That Be

Tim Carroll - Master of Play

Tim Carroll - Master of Verse

Roger Butlin - Master of Design

Tim Arnold - Master of Music

Peter Oswald has long been associated with the Globe Theatre and wrote Augustine's Oak with full knowledge about the company who are now breathing life into his work. In the later stages of the writing process the actors all had the opportunity to input their ideas into the shaping of the characters they were to play. The results are simply stunning, with incredable and deeply moving performances from every member of the company.