NRK, the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation are airing Sweet Swan of Avon primetime every Tuesday in December, starting on December the 8th running until Tuesday 29th. 21:30 on the main channel NRK1. They will also show reruns on Saturdays at 18:45 on NRK2.

Sweet Swan of Avon is the four part drama documentary in which the British Shakespeare Company perform historical recreations and many scenes from Shakespeare’s plays. All these scenes were directed by Robert J. Williamson with actors, costumes and locations arranged by the British Shakespeare Company.

Please follow this link to view a promo with subtitles Sweet Swan of Avon

The English version of Sweet Swan of Avon will be shown internationally next year. Please watch this space for details.

Mark Rylance as Prospero

I spent a fantastic day today at Brunel University interviewing Mark Rylance (former artistic director of the Globe Theatre and all round international Shakespearean genius) for the film Sweet Swan of Avon. This is the first time we have met although I have spent many wonderful evenings in his company at the Globe and elsewhere where he has taken me on a journey to Agincourt or Prospero’s Island. A truly gifted performer and I was delighted to find a witty and fiercely intelligent man behind the public figure.

After the meeting Mark Rylance became Dr Rylance at a ceremony attended by Sir Derek Jacobi. After this they shared the platform for a fascinating debate on the authorship question. I know the very idea of an authorship debate makes some people very angry indeed. I would say that such questions can only enliven our thirst for knowledge about the man behind the works and help dismiss fanciful images like the current “Cobbe portrait”.

We then had food, wine and interesting talk - splended.

Paul Newman died Friday after a long battle with cancer at his farmhouse near Westport, he was surrounded by his family and close friends.

In May, Newman had dropped plans to direct a theatre production of “Of Mice and Men,” citing unspecified health issues.

He got his start in theater during the 1950’s, and went on to become one of the world’s most enduring and popular film stars, a legend held in awe by his peers. He was nominated for Oscars 10 times, winning one regular award and two honorary ones, and had major roles in more than 50 motion pictures.

Newman worked with some of the greatest directors of the past half century, from Alfred Hitchcock and John Huston to Robert Altman, Martin Scorsese and Sam Mendes. His co-stars included Elizabeth Taylor, Lauren Bacall, Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks and, most famously, Robert Redford, his sidekick in “Butch Cassidy” and “The Sting.” He sometimes teamed with his wife and fellow Oscar winner, Joanne Woodward, with whom he had one of Hollywood’s rare long-term marriages.

An entrepreneur and humantarian he founded a food company ‘Newman’s Own’ from which Newman donated all profits and royalties to charity. As of May 2007, these donations have exceeded US$220 million. These included donations to Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London and The Texas Shakespeare Festival when shortsighted councillors withdrew funding.

A company is already offering trips to Oak Island the site brought into question by the film we have been working on. The film will be released at the end of the year and will be controversial in the world of Shakespeare. We are very proud of the many Shakespeare scenes the BSC have created and we will keep you posted with a release date. You are welcome to comment.

I have just returned from Norway and filming scenes from The Tempest and Titus Andronicus. Above is an image of Prospero played by BSC regular John Ioannou. We filmed in some stunning locations and I would like to thank the cast and Norwegian crew for doing such a wonderful job. Please visit the film section where some new pictures on location have been added.

The British Shakespeare Company will again be in Norway for a few days next week. The appropriately named World’s End will be the stunning back drop for Prospero and Miranda in The Tempest.