Pericles

Pericles

Written by William Shakespeare
Performed in English
1984–1985

“Pericles has got incest, kings, two shipwrecks, knights, a resurrection, a burial at sea, a tournament, brothels, divine apparitions, ancient Greek goddesses, and a sense of spirituality that overtakes the play. It’s an extraordinary anarchic, big, spilling piece but there’s a strange sort of unity underneath it all.

It’s fantastically, textually inconsistent in so far as parts of it are satire, parts are humour, parts are terrifying, parts of it are noble and uplifting.”
– Declan Donnellan, Cheek by Jowl Artistic Director on Pericles

Produced by Cheek by Jowl. The first performance of  Pericles was on 1st February 1984 at the Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds, UK.

“The sheer essence of theatre”
Ya

Cast and creative team

Cast

Name	Character
Simon Dormandy	Antiochus / 2nd Fisherman / 3rd Knight / Philemon / Leonine / Lysimachus
Amanda Harris	Antiochus’ Daughter / 3rd Fisherman / 2nd Knight / Marina
Andrew Collins	Pericles / 1st Pirate / 1st Gentleman
Martin Turner	Helicanus / Simonides / 2nd Sailor / 3rd Pirate / Pander / 2nd Gentleman
Duncan Bell	Cleon / 1st Fisherman / 1st Knight / 1st Sailor / Cerimon / 2nd Pirate / Boult
Sadie Shimmin	Dionyza / Thaisa
Dierdre Edwards	Lychorida / Ephesian Lady / Bawd / Goddess Diana

Creative Team

Role	Name
Director	Declan Donnellan
Designer	Nick Ormerod
Music	James Antony Ellis
Choreography	Sara von Beers
Company Stage Manager	Nick Kidd
Costumes	Charlotte Humpston
Company Movement	Ilan Reichel
Company Voice	Charmain Hoare

Previous performances

Previous Performances

Date (first performance)	Location	No. of performances
14 January 1985	London, Donmar Warehouse, UK	7
4 December 1984	Norwich, Arts Centre, UK	2
29 November 1984	Rugby, Macready Theatre, UK	1
28 November 1984	Kidderminster, College of FE, UK	1
23 November 1984	Gutersloh, Theater Der Stadt, Germany	1
22 November 1984	Cologne, British Council Centre, Germany	1
20 November 1984	Erlangen, Theater in Der Garage, Germany	1
13 November 1984	Munich, Alabama–Halle, Germany	2
9 November 1984	Ludwigshafen, Theater Im Pfalbau, Germany	1
7 November 1984	Cologne, British Council Centre, UK	1
1 November 1984	Stamford, Arts Centre, UK	1
27 October 1984	Frome, Merlin Theatre, UK	1
25 October 1984	Grimsby, Caxton Theatre, UK	1
23 October 1984	Barton Upon Humberside, Baysgarth School, UK	1
22 October 1984	Lincolnshire, Monks Dyke School, UK	1
12 October 1984	Epsom, Playhouse, UK	1
2 October 1984	Coleraine, Riverside Theatre, UK	3
27 September 1984	Ellesmere, Arts Centre, UK	1
26 September 1984	Burton Upon Trent, Technical College, UK	1
25 September 1984	Kidderminster, Rose Theatre, UK	1
21 September 1984	Portsmouth, Drama Centre, UK	1
20 September 1984	Fareham, Drama Centre, UK	1
12 September 1984	Madrid, Teatro Lara, Spain	3
11 September 1984	Valladolid, Sala ‘A’, Spain	1
9 September 1984	Almagro, Corral De Comdidas, Spain	1
6 September 1984	Tunbridge Wells, Trinity Arts Centre, UK	1
3 September 1984	Croyden, Warehouse, UK	3
11 June 1984	Jerusalem, Khan Theatre, Israel	3
22 May 1984	Hemel Hempstead, Old Town Hall, UK	1
18 May 1984	Canterbury, Gulbenkian Theatre, UK	1
17 May 1984	Aldershot, West End Centre, UK	1
8 May 1984	Hereford, Nell Gwynne Theatre,, UK	1
4 May 1984	Tolworth, Community Centre, UK	1
11 April 1984	Fareham, Drama Centre, UK	2
30 March 1984	Basingstoke, Central Studio, UK	1
20 March 1984	King’s Lynn, Fermoy Centre, UK	2
15 March 1984	Southport, Arts Centre, UK	2
14 March 1984	Bacup, Fearns School, UK	1
2 March 1984	Irvine, Harbour Arts Centre, UK	1
23 February 1984	Plymouth, The Drum, UK	1
10 February 1984	Bracknell, Wilde Theatre, UK	2
1 February 1984	Bury St Edmunds, Theatre Royal, UK	4
7 January 1985	London, Donmar Warehouse, UK	7
4 December 1984	Norwich, Arts Centre, UK	1
22 November 1984	Cologne, British Council Centre, Germany	1
14 November 1984	Munich, Alabama–Halle, Germany	6
11 November 1984	Erlangan, Theatre in der Garage, Germany	1
7 November 1984	Cologne, British Council, Germany	1
5 November 1984	Dusseldorf, Schauspielhaus, Germany	1
1 November 1984	Stamford, Arts Centre, UK	1
15 October 1984	Guildford, University of Surrey, UK	1
9 October 1984	Pendley, Arts Centre, UK	1
23 August 1984	Glasgow, Tron Theatre, UK	2
11 June 1984	Haifa, Beit Adu Hushi, Israel	3
9 June 1984	Jerusalem, Gerard Behar Centre, Israel	4
2 June 1984	Billericay, Arts Centre, UK	1
25 May 1984	Warminster, Arts Centre, UK	1
18 May 1984	Canterbury, Gulbenkian Theatre, UK	2
12 May 1984	Wallingford, Corn Exchange, UK	2
8 May 1984	Hereford, Nell Gwynne Theatre, UK	2
30 April 1984	Winchester, College, UK	1
28 April 1984	Aversham, Robin Hood Theatre, UK	1
26 April 1984	Milton Keynes, Stantonbury Theatre, UK	2
28 March 1984	Washington, Arts Centre, UK	1
22 March 1984	Bangor, Theatr Gwynedd, UK	3
19 March 1984	High Wycombe, Town Hall, UK	1
16 March 1984	Southport, Arts Centre, UK	1
13 March 1984	Accrington, Town Hall, UK	1
12 March 1984	Langholm, The Academy, UK	1
10 March 1984	Biggar, Arts Centre, UK	1
9 March 1984	Stranraer, Academy, UK	1
8 March 1984	Gatehouse, Primary School, UK	1
7 March 1984	Thornhill, Wallace Hall Academy, UK	1
2 March 1984	Irvine, Harbour Arts Centre, UK	1
1 March 1984	Aberdeen, Arts Centre, UK	1
29 February 1984	Durham, Dunelm House, UK	1
26 February 1984	Chertsey, The Hall, UK	1
23 February 1984	Plymouth, The Drum, UK	3
18 February 1984	Maidstone, Hazlitt Theatre, UK	1
17 February 1984	Broadstairs, Hilderstone Arts Centre, UK	1
15 February 1984	Tunbridge Wells, Trinity Arts Centre, UK	1
14 February 1984	Eastbourne, Tivoli Arts Centre, UK	1
9 February 1984	Bracknell, Wilde Theatre, UK	1
7 February 1984	Runcorn, Castlefields Centre, UK	2
6 February 1984	Ormskirk, Civic Hall, UK	1
1 February 1984	Bury St Edmunds, Theatre Royal, UK	4
26 January 1984	Epsom, Playhouse, UK	3
13 January 1984	Luton, Library Theatre, UK	2
17 December 1983	Aylesbury, Limelight Theatre, UK	1
16 December 1983	Windsor, Arts Centre, UK	1
15 December 1983	Aldershot, West End Centre, UK	1
12 December 1983	Scunthorpe, Civic Theatre, UK	2
8 December 1983	Gt Yarmouth, St Georges, UK	1
6 December 1983	Basildon, Towngate Studio, UK	2
3 December 1983	Tamworth, Arts Centre, UK	1
2 December 1983	Rugby, Macready Theatre, UK	1
1 December 1983	Halesowen, Leasowes School, UK	1
30 November 1983	Kidderminster, College of FE, UK	1
29 November 1983	Evesham, Arts Centre, UK	1
28 November 1983	Stoke on Trent, Arts Project, UK	1
26 November 1983	Shropshire, Ellesmere Arts Centre, UK	1
25 November 1983	Burton upon Trent, Bass Museum, UK	1
24 November 1983	Hereford, Cathedral School, UK	1
23 November 1983	Shrewsbury, 6th Form College, UK	1
22 November 1983	Stafford, Gatehouse Theatre, UK	1
21 November 1983	Bridnorth, Theatre on the Steps, UK	1
19 November 1983	Skegness, Arcadia Centre, UK	1
18 November 1983	Louth, Cordeaux High School, UK	1
17 November 1983	Gainsborough, Queen Elizabeth HS, UK	1
16 November 1983	Humberside, Baysgarth Drama School, UK	1
15 November 1983	Grimsby, Whitgift Theatre, UK	1
14 November 1983	Withernsea, High School, UK	1
11 November 1983	Leicester, Pheonix Arts Centre, UK	3
8 November 1983	King’s Lynn, Fermoy Centre, UK	2
4 November 1983	Hemel Hempstead, Old Town Hall, UK	2
3 November 1983	Banbury, Spiceball Arts Centre, UK	1
2 November 1983	Basingstoke, Central Studio, UK	1
31 October 1983	Stevenage, Gordon Craig Theatre, UK	2
28 October 1983	Sudbury, Quay Theatre, UK	2
25 October 1983	Colchester, St Mary’s Arts Centre, UK	2
25 October 1983	Colchester, University Theatre, UK	2
24 October 1983	Bury St Edmunds, Theatre Royal, UK	1
21 October 1983	Boston, Blackfriars Arts Centre, UK	2
19 October 1983	Chipping Norton, The Theatre, UK	2
13 October 1983	Coleraine, Riverside Theatre, UK	3
12 October 1983	Omagh, Town Hall, UK	1
11 October 1983	Armagh, Technical College, Ireland	1
8 October 1983	Frome, Merlin Theatre, UK	1
7 October 1983	Dartingdon, Arts Centre, UK	1
6 October 1983	Torrington, The Plough, UK	1
5 October 1983	St Austell, Arts Centre, UK	1
4 October 1983	Bridgewater, Arts Centre, UK	1
30 September 1983	Whitehaven, Rosehill Theatre, UK	2
28 September 1983	Ambleside, CharlotteMasonCollege, UK	1
27 September 1983	Barrow, 6thFormCollege, UK	1
23 September 1983	Uppingham, Theatre, UK	2
21 September 1983	Fareham, Drama Centre, UK	2
16 September 1983	Oundle, Stahl Theatre, UK	2
13 September 1983	Sutton, Secombe Theatre, UK	2
18 August 1983	Edinburgh, Bedlam, UK	14
10 August 1983	London, Clockhouse Community Centre, UK	1

Awards and reviews

Awards

Olivier Award – Most Promising Newcomer of the Year in Theatre
1985 – Cheek by Jowl for Andromache, Pericles and Vanity Fair at the Donmar Warehouse

Reviews

“At the end, with a great shout of jubilation, the actors call the public to celebrate new joy for indeed the entire performance has been a joint and joyous act – the sheer essence of theatre.”
Ya

“I can’t think of a better introduction to Shakespeare than Cheek by Jowl’s Pericles. It has all the virtues of simplicity and economy without forfeiting any of the play’s intrinsic richness. This is proof positive that Shakespeare, used with imagination and good nature, can still touch the heart strings. “
City Limits