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The '''Renaissance Theatre Company''' was founded in 1987 by ] and ] as a development of the work they had been doing periodically on the London 'Fringe', producing and appearing in lunchtime shows, leading up to Branagh's full-scale production of '']'', at the Lyric Studio in Hammersmith in August 1986 co-starring Branagh and ].


{{Infobox organization
With a group of 'angels'—fellow actors, writers and kindred spirits—the newly formed company was able to finance its first full season, including the premiere of Branagh's thriller, ''Public Enemy'', in the Lyric Hammersmith main house, with Branagh in the 'Jimmie Cagney' style leading role. In the same season this was followed by ]' satirical solo ''The Life of Napoleon'' which transferred from ] to the ].
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The '''Renaissance Theatre Company''' was founded in 1987 by ] and ] as a development of the work they had been doing periodically on the London 'Fringe', producing and appearing in lunchtime shows, leading up to Branagh's full-scale production of '']'', at the ] in Hammersmith, London, in August 1986 co-starring Branagh and ].

With a group of 'angels'—fellow actors, writers and kindred spirits—the newly formed company was able to finance its first full season, including the premiere of Branagh's thriller, ''Public Enemy'', in the Lyric Hammersmith main house, with Branagh in the ']' style leading role. In the same season this was followed by ]' satirical solo ''The Life of Napoleon'' which transferred from ] to the ].


Over Christmas 1987 the season ended with Branagh's production of '']'' also at ], starring ] as Malvolio, ] as Viola, and with an original score directed on stage by Scottish actor, musician and composer ] (who later achieved fame as an international film composer). The production was also recorded by ]. Over Christmas 1987 the season ended with Branagh's production of '']'' also at ], starring ] as Malvolio, ] as Viola, and with an original score directed on stage by Scottish actor, musician and composer ] (who later achieved fame as an international film composer). The production was also recorded by ].
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In 1989, Judi Dench again worked as director for the Renaissance revival of both the theatre and television productions of '']'' by ], presented first in Belfast then in London at the ], starring Branagh as Jimmy Porter and ] as Alison. In 1989, Judi Dench again worked as director for the Renaissance revival of both the theatre and television productions of '']'' by ], presented first in Belfast then in London at the ], starring Branagh as Jimmy Porter and ] as Alison.


Renaissance moved into different mediums such as Branagh's Academy Award-winning film version of Henry V, but also by producing three shakespeare plays on radio, Hamlet, Romeo & Juliet, and finally, King Lear starring ]. Renaissance moved into different mediums such as Branagh's Academy Award-winning film version of Henry V, but also by producing three ] plays on radio, Hamlet, Romeo & Juliet, and finally, King Lear starring ].


The companies last two major stage productions were '']'' (with Richard Briers and Peter Eyre) and '']'' produced in conjunction with the ] and starring Kenneth Branagh in the title role and Judi Dench as his mother, Volumnia. The companies last two major stage productions were '']'' (with Richard Briers and Peter Eyre) and '']'' produced in conjunction with the ] and starring Kenneth Branagh in the title role and Judi Dench as his mother, Volumnia.
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Branagh subsequently moved into film making and the company was disbanded in 1994. Branagh subsequently moved into film making and the company was disbanded in 1994.


The archives and online searchable catalogue of the Renaissance Theatre Company are part of the Shakespeare Collections at the University of Birmingham.<ref>{{cite web The archives and online searchable catalogue of the Renaissance Theatre Company are part of the Shakespeare Collections at the ].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://calmview.bham.ac.uk/ |url=http://calmview.bham.ac.uk/
|title=Cadbury Research Library: Special Collections: Online Catalogue |title=Cadbury Research Library: Special Collections: Online Catalogue

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Renaissance Theatre Company
Formation1987 (1987)
Founders

The Renaissance Theatre Company was founded in 1987 by Kenneth Branagh and David Parfitt as a development of the work they had been doing periodically on the London 'Fringe', producing and appearing in lunchtime shows, leading up to Branagh's full-scale production of Romeo and Juliet, at the Lyric Studio in Hammersmith, London, in August 1986 co-starring Branagh and Samantha Bond.

With a group of 'angels'—fellow actors, writers and kindred spirits—the newly formed company was able to finance its first full season, including the premiere of Branagh's thriller, Public Enemy, in the Lyric Hammersmith main house, with Branagh in the 'Jimmie Cagney' style leading role. In the same season this was followed by John Sessions' satirical solo The Life of Napoleon which transferred from Riverside Studios to the Albery Theatre.

Over Christmas 1987 the season ended with Branagh's production of Twelfth Night also at Riverside Studios, starring Richard Briers as Malvolio, Frances Barber as Viola, and with an original score directed on stage by Scottish actor, musician and composer Patrick Doyle (who later achieved fame as an international film composer). The production was also recorded by Thames Television.

Although Renaissance received no public funding, it partnered in 1988 with John Adams and the Birmingham Rep on a touring season of plays launched as Renaissance Shakespeare on the Road, with three classical actors making their directing debuts: Judi Dench with Much Ado About Nothing; Geraldine McEwan with As You Like It; and Derek Jacobi with Hamlet, which featured Branagh in the title role. After a UK tour and an August stop-over at Elsinore, the three productions were seen in a London repertoire season at the Phoenix Theatre (London).

In 1989, Judi Dench again worked as director for the Renaissance revival of both the theatre and television productions of Look Back in Anger by John Osborne, presented first in Belfast then in London at the Lyric Theatre, starring Branagh as Jimmy Porter and Emma Thompson as Alison.

Renaissance moved into different mediums such as Branagh's Academy Award-winning film version of Henry V, but also by producing three ] plays on radio, Hamlet, Romeo & Juliet, and finally, King Lear starring Sir John Gielgud.

The companies last two major stage productions were Uncle Vanya (with Richard Briers and Peter Eyre) and Coriolanus produced in conjunction with the Chichester Festival Theatre and starring Kenneth Branagh in the title role and Judi Dench as his mother, Volumnia.

Branagh subsequently moved into film making and the company was disbanded in 1994.

The archives and online searchable catalogue of the Renaissance Theatre Company are part of the Shakespeare Collections at the University of Birmingham. Online versions of the digitised prompt books from the company archive and the Henry V script and storyboards are also part of the University's collection. Kenneth Branagh is an Honorary Research Fellow of the Shakespeare Institute, University of Birmingham.

References

  1. "Cadbury Research Library: Special Collections: Online Catalogue". University of Birmingham. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
  2. "Collections: ShakespeareInstitute". Virtual Manuscript . University of Birmingham. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
  3. "Shakespeare Institute". Retrieved 2012-07-26.
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