For fifty years now, on being asked what Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is about, I have stood pat on ‘It’s about two courtiers at Elsinore.’ I wasn’t insensitive to more suggestive possibilities but I took the view that every subjective response had its own validity: no interpretations endorsed, none denied. The one I liked best, however, was by a Fleet Street journalist who was at the first night. ‘I get it,’ he said, ‘it’s two reporters on a story that doesn’t stand up.’
T.S.
Rosencrantz & Guildenstern
Are Dead
PRODUCTION CREDITS
The first performance of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead was given in a slightly shortened form on August 24, 1966 at Cranston Street Hall, Edinburgh, by the Oxford Theatre Group as part of the ‘‘fringe” of the Edinburgh Festival.
The cast was as follows:
Rosencrantz David Marks
Guildenstern Clive Cable
The Player Jules Roach
Tragedians Ron Forfar, Nic Renton, Howard Daubney
Hamlet John Dodgson
Ophelia Janet Watts
Claudius Nick Elliot
Gertrude Frances Morrow
Polonius Walter Merricks
Directed by Brian Daubney
The first professional production was given on April 11, 1967 at the Old Vic Theatre, London, by the National Theatre Company.
The cast was as follows:
Rosencrantz John Stride
Guildenstern Edward Petherbridge
The Player Graham Crowden
Alfred Alan Adams
Tragedians Oliver Cotton, Neil Fitzpatrick, Luke Hardy, Roger Kemp
Hamlet John McEnery
Ophelia Caroline John
Claudius Kenneth Mackintosh
Gertrude Mary Griffiths
Polonius Peter Cellier
Horatio David Hargreaves
Fortinbras David Bailie
Ambassador David Ryall
1st Soldier Christopher Timothy
2nd Soldier Denis De Marne
Court and Attendants
Petronella Barker, Margo Cunningham, Kay Gallie, David Belcher, Reginald Green, William Hobbs, Lennard Pearce, Ron Pember, Frederick Pyne
Directed by Derek Goldby
Designed by Desmond Heeley
The New York première of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead was given on October 16, 1967 at the Alvin Theatre.
The cast was as follows:
Rosencrantz Brian Murray
Guildenstern John Wood
The Player Paul Hecht
Alfred Douglas Norwick
Tragedians Roger Kemp, Dino Laudicina, B. J. Desimone, Roy Lozano
Hamlet Noel Craig
Ophelia Pat McAneny
Claudius Roger Hamilton
Gertrude Anne Meacham
Polonius Ralph Drischell
Soldier Alexander Courtney
Horatio Michael Holmes
Courtiers, Ambassadors, Soldiers, and Attendants
Walter Beery, Stephen Bernstein, Gaetano Bon Giovanni, Margaret Braidwood, Esther Buffler, Alexander Courtney, Elizabeth Eis, Elizabeth Franz, William Grannell, John Handy, Mary Hara, Carl Jacobs, Ed Marshall, Ted Pezzulo, Jonathan Reynolds
Musicians Bruce Levine, Arthur Lora, Bernie Karl, Jack Knitter
Directed by Derek Goldby
Designed by Desmond Heeley
A subsequent production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead was given on December 8, 1995 at the Lyttelton Theatre, London, by the National Theatre Group, produced by Matthew Somerville.
The cast was as follows:
Rosencrantz Adrian Scarborough
Guildenstern Simon Russell Beale
The Player King Alan Howard
Tragedians Tim Crouch, James Hirst, Rowland Holmes, Clive Llewellyn, Kraig Thornber, Luke Williams
Hamlet Paul Rattigan
Ophelia; Pirate Claudie Blakley
Claudius; Pirate Julian Forsyth
Gertrude Lois Baxter
Polonius Harry Towb
Horatio; Courtier; Pirate Malcolm James
Fortinbras; Courtier; Pirate Francis Maguire
Laertes; Pirate Charles Millham
Alfred Callum Dixon
Court, Attendants, Pirates
Colin Vaughan, Gareth Vaughan, Colin Haigh, Marianne Morley, and Jacqui O Hanlon
Directed by Matthew Francis
Designed by Lez Brotherston
Following a limited run at the Chichester Festival Theatre, a revival production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead was given in June 16, 2011 at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, London, by the Chichester Festival Theatre, the Theatre Royal Haymarket and Triumph Entertainment Limited.
The cast was as follows:
Rosencrantz Samuel Barnett
Guildenstern Jamie Parker
The Player Chris Andrew Mellon
Horatio Michael Benz
Gertrude Fiona Gillies
Fortinbras Tom Golding
Alfred Charles Hamblett
Hamlet Jack Hawkins
Polonius; Ambassador Andrew Jarvis
Ophelia Katherine Press
Claudius James Simmons
Other Cast
Trevor Allan Davies, Tomm Coles, Jody Elin Machin, Zac Fox, Elisabeth Hopper, Greg Last, James Northcote and Stephen Pallister
Directed by Trevor Nunn
Designed by Simon Higlett
A 50th anniversary celebratory production was given on February 25, 2017 at the Old Vic Theatre, London.
The cast was as follows:
Rosencrantz Daniel Radcliffe
Guildenstern Joshua McGuire
The Player David Haig
Player Louisa Beadel
Polonius William Chubb
Player Matthew Durkan
Hamlet Luke Mullins
Gertrude Marianne Oldham
Ophelia Helena Wilson
Directed by David Leveaux
Designed by Anna Fleischle
ACT ONE
Two