Pericles

By William Shakespeare. Directed by Edward Rayner
April 2007

Synopsis

Pericles, the ruling Prince of Tyre, having (through no fault of his own) provoked the enmity of the powerful neighbouring state, Antioch, decides to travel for a while to forestall a possible invasion.

He sails first to the famine-stricken state of Tarsus with relief supplies; thence to Pentapolis, where, shipwrecked in a violent storm, he falls in love with and marries Thaisa, the daughter of the king. On the voyage back to Tyre, Thaisa dies giving birth to a daughter, Marina. In accordance with custom, Thaisa's body is cast overboard. Pericles then decides to leave Marina, for safekeeping with the Governor of Tarsus and his wife, Dionyza.

Thaisa's body is washed up on the shore of Ephesus where the Lady Cerimon invokes the help of the goddess Diana to revive her.

Years later, when Pericles returns to Tarsus, he is told that Marina has died in her sleep. In fact, she has been abducted by pirates and sold to a brothel in Mytilene—where she eventually comes under the protection of the Governor, Lysimachus.

In the final act of the play, the presiding spiritual influence, the goddess Diana leads Pericles, and us, to a touching and happy conclusion in Ephesus.

Acts and Scenes

Act One

• Scene 1 : Antioch, the King's private chamber


• Scene 2 : Tyre, a hall in the Palace


• Scene 3 : Tarsus, a street


• Scene 4 : Pentapolis, the sea shore


• Scene 5 : Tyre, a room in the Palace


• Scene 6 : Pentapolis, The King’s private chamber


• Scene 7 : On a ship at sea


• Scene 8 : Ephesus, Lady Cerimon’s chamber


• Scene 9 : Tarsus, the sea shore


• Scene 10 : Tarsus (many years later), near the sea shore


Interval of 15 minutes



Act Two

• Scene 11 : Mytilene, outside a brothel


• Scene 12 : Tarsus, an open space


• Scene 13 : Mytilene, outside a brothel


• Scene 14 : Mytilene (some years later), near the port


• Scene 15 : Ephesus, at the Temple of Diana

Cast and Crew

* denotes a debut on the Rottingdean stage

Performance Dates

Wed 18th Apr 2007 at 7:45 PM
Thu 19th Apr 2007 at 7:45 PM
Fri 20th Apr 2007 at 7:45 PM
Sat 21st Apr 2007 at 2:00 PM
Sat 21st Apr 2007 at 7:45 PM

Photographs

There are photographs from other production and events available in the gallery.

Other Material