Details

Canterbury Tales is a bawdy classic written 700 years ago, it centres on a group of pilgrims who entertain one another with stories as they ride to Canterbury Cathedral. But despite the apparently holy purpose of their journey these travellers reveal themselves as sinners rather than saints. The pilgrims contrasting and colourful backgrounds offer many different stories, from the serious and moral to the farcical and bawdy, proving that like Shakespeare after him, Chaucer was 'not for an age but for all time' . Part II consists of The Wife of Bath and Other Tales. As the colourful characters near Canterbury, perhaps the most famous of the pilgrims, the worldly-wise Wife of Bath, regales her fellow travellers, with tales of unfortunate and downtrodden husbands. In contrast, the Franklin tells of his romance of Arveragus, Aurelius and Dorigen, steeped in the lofty ideals of chivalry and courtly love.

Cast/Performers

Paola Dionisotti (Prioress), Claire Benedict (Wife of Bath), Michael Jibson, Nick Barber, Daon Broni, Dylan Charles, Lisa Ellis, Christopher Godwin, Mark Hadfield, Michael Hadley, Anna Hewson, Edward Hughes, Michael Matius, Barry McCarthy, Chu Omabala, Ian Pirie, Joshua Richards, Christopher Saul, Katherine Tozer, Darren Tunstall

Creatives/Company

Author: Chaucer
Producer: Royal Shakespeare Company
Adapted by: Mike Poulton
Director(s): Gregory Doran, Rebecca Gatward, Jonathan Munby
Design: Michael Vale