MAJOR BRITISH PRODUCTIONS IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

1923

The Phoenix Society at the Shaftesbury Theatre, London Cast: Moyna MacGill (Annabella); Ion Swinley (Giovanni); Henry Oscar (Soranzo); Harold Scott (Bergetto) Director: Alan Wade

1934–5

The Arts Theatre Club, London Cast: Selma Vaz Dias (Annabella); Terence de Marney (Giovanni); Neil Porter (Soranzo); Norman Shelley (Vasques); Mark Dignam (Donado); Harold Scott (Bergetto); Walter Fitzgerald (Richard- etto) Director: Harold Mortlake

1940–1

Cambridge Arts Theatre (later transferred to the Strand Theatre, London) Cast: Rosalind Iden (Annabella); Donald Wolfit (Giovanni); Hubert Langley (Soranzo); Reginald Jarman (Vasques) (H. Worrall- Thompson later took over the role); Michael Ashwin (Bergetto); Richard Wordsworth (Cardinal) Director: Donald Wolfit

1953

BBC radio production, broadcast 30 August Director: Martyn C. Webster

1955

Nottingham Playhouse

1958

Cambridge A.D.C. at the Cambridge Arts Theatre Cast: Margaret Drabble (Annabella); Richard Marquand (Giovanni); Eleanor Bron (Putana); Derek Jacobi (Soranzo); Clive Swift (Vasques); Richard Cottrell (Bergetto) Directors: Elsie Kemp and Richard Cottrell

1961

Mermaid Theatre, London Cast: Zena Walker (Annabella); Edward de Souza (Giovanni); Patience. Collier (Putana); David Sumner (Soranzo); John Woodvine (Vasques); Stephen Thorne (Bergetto); Jeremy Geidt (Poggio) Director: David Thompson

1962

BBC radio production, broadcast 29 June Director: Martyn C. Webster

1968

Bristol Old Vic Director: John David

1970

BBC radio production, broadcast 16 January Director: John Tydeman

1972–4

The Actors’ Company and the Cambridge Theatre Company Cast: Felicity Kendall (Annabella) (Paola Dionisotti later took over the role); Ian McKellen (Giovanni); Frank Middlemass (Florio); Robert Eddison (Friar); Edward Petherbridge (Soranzo); Jack Shepherd (Vasques) (John Bennett later took over the role); Tenniel Evans (Donado); John Tordoff (Bergetto) Director: David Giles

1972

National Theatre Touring Company Cast: Anna Carteret (Annabella); Nicholas Clay (Giovanni); James Hayes (Putana); Gawn Grainger (Vasques); David Bradley (Bergetto); Diana Rigg (Hippolita) Director: Roland Joffé

1973

Film version adapted by Giuseppe Patroni Griffi Cast: Charlotte Rampling (Annabella); Oliver Tobias (Giovanni); Antonio Falsi (Friar); Fabio Testi (Soranzo) Director: Giuseppe Patroni Griffi

1977

Royal Shakespeare Company at the Other Place, Stratford-upon- Avon (later transferred to the Donmar Warehouse, London) Cast: Barbara Kellerman (Annabella); Simon Rouse (Giovanni); Nigel Terry Soranzo); Geoffrey Hutchings (Vasques); Tim Wylton (Bergetto); Ron Cook (Poggio) Director: Ron Daniels

1978

Northcott Theatre, Exeter Director: Richard Digby Day

1980

BBC television version adapted by Richard Broke, Roland Joffé, and Kenneth McLeish; broadcast 7 May

 

Cast: Cherie Lunghi (Annabella); Kenneth Cranham (Giovanni); Colin Douglas (Florio); Tim Pigott-Smith (Vasques); Rodney Bewes (Bergetto) Director: Roland Joffé

1980

New Theatre Company, at Theatrespace (later transferred to the Old Half Moon Theatre, London) Director: Declan Donnellan

1988

Glasgow Citizens’ Theatre Cast: Yolanda Vasquez (Annabella); Tristram Wymark (Giovanni); Fidelis organ (Putana); Ron Donachie (Soranzo); Rupert Farley (Vasques) Director: Philip Prowse

1988

Royal National Theatre, London Cast: Suzan Sylvester (Annabella); Rupert Graves (Giovanni); Richard Cordery (Friar); Michael Simkins (Soranzo); Clive Francis (Vasques); Russell Dixon (Bergetto); Jim Barclay (Poggio) Director: Alan Ayckbourn

1991–2

Royal Shakespeare Company at the Swan, Stratford-upon-Avon (later transferred the Pit, London) Cast: Saskia Reeves (Annabella); Jonathan Cullen (Giovanni); Sheila Reid (Putana); Jonathan Newth (Friar); Tim Mclnnerny (Soranzo); Jonathan Hyde (Vasques);Richard Bonneville (Bergetto); Guy Henry (Poggio); Terence Wilton (Richardetto) Director: David Leveaux

1995

Talawa Theatre Company, at the Lyric Studio, London Cast: Ginny Holder (Annabella); Stephen Persaud (Giovanni); Alan Igbon (Soranzo); Don Warrington (Vasques); Simon Clayton (Bergetto) Director: Yvonne Brewster

1999

Young Vic, London Cast: Eve Best (Annabella); Jude Law (Giovanni); David Lyon (Florio); Annette Badland (Putana); Kevin McKidd; (Soranzo); Philip Whitchurch (Vasques); Caroline Langrishe (Hippolita); Catherine Bailey (Philotis) Director: David Lan

Quarto title page, 1633
By permission of the Master and Fellows of St John’s College,
Cambridge