Details

(1593). Written by a youthful Shakespeare at the time that London's theatres closed their doors in fear of the Plague. Venus and Adonis is an epic poem of wit and sensuous beauty. It tells the tale of the sex goddess, Venus and her passionate obsession for the petulant and beautiful Adonis. He rejects her offer of love, preferring the joys of boar hunting. However, after finally succumbing to her advances, the story ends in tragedy. Inspired by both Japanese Bunraku puppets and Jacobean Court Masque, this production tells the story of Venus and Adonis with marionettes, rod, shadow and table-top puppets. Since May 2004, an international group of Puppet makers - from the Czech Republic, Germany and South Africa, has been hard at work in the Islington workshops, whilst the miniature costumes are being made in the RSC wardrobe department in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Cast/Performers

Michael Pennington (narrator)

Creatives/Company

Author: Shakespeare
Producer(s): Royal Shakespeare Company, Little Angel Theatre
Adapted by: Gregory Doran
Director(s): Gregory Doran, Steve Tipland (puppetry)
Design(s): Robert Jones, Lyndie Wright (puppets), Jan Zalud (puppets), John Roberts (puppets), Stefan Fichert (puppets), Simon Aauton (puppets)
Music: John Woolf