TITUS ANDRONICUS

TITUS ANDRONICUS (1985)

BBC Release

Details

• DVD Region: 2+4 PAL (UK & Europe)
• Certificate: U
• Running Time: Approx. 168 minutes
• Type: Fullscreen
• Originally Transmitted: 27th April 1985
• DVD Release Date: 2005
• Released By: BBC Worldwide Ltd.
• Distributed By: DD Home Entertainment
• Format: Colour DVD PAL
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English SDH
• Audio: Mono
• Aspect Ratio: 4:3

© BBC Television in association with Time-Life
All Rights Reserved

A TRAGEDIE

In 1978, the BBC set itself the ambitious task of filming the complete works of William Shakespeare for television. These productions, celebrated for their fidelity to the original texts, brought together leading theatrical and television directors and showcased powerful performances from notable contemporary actors.

"Ten thousand worse than ever yet I did
Would I perform, if I might have my will,
If one good deed in all my life I did,
I do repent it from my very soul."

Victorious over the Goths, Titus Andronicus returns to Rome burdened with grief for his fallen sons. Among his captives is the Gothic Queen Tamora, whose eldest son is sacrificed in a ritual act Titus believes just. When the newly appointed Emperor Saturninus unexpectedly takes Tamora as his bride, a savage cycle of revenge is set in motion.

This BBC production presents one of Shakespeare's most violent and unsettling works — a tragedy steeped in vengeance, political corruption, and the darkest extremes of human cruelty. Trevor Peacock delivers a commanding and deeply affecting portrayal of Titus as the drama descends into horror, irony, and poetic intensity.

---

Cast

First billed only

• Trevor Peacock ... Titus Andronicus
• Eileen Atkins ... Queen Tamora
• Brian Protheroe ... Saturninus
• Edward Hardwicke ... Marcus
• Anna Calder-Marshall ... Lavinia
• Hugh Quarshie ... Aaron
• Nicholas Gecks ... Bassianus
• Neil McCaul ... Demetrius
• Michael Crompton ... Chiron
• Gavin Richards ... Lucius
• Crispin Redman ... Quintus
• Tom Hunsinger ... Martius
• Michael Packer ... Mutius
• Paul Davies Prowles ... Young Lucius
• Walter Brown ... Aemilius
• Peter Searles ... Alarbus / 4th Goth / Valentine
• Paul Kelly ... Publius / 2nd Goth
• John Benfield ... Messenger / 1st Goth / Caius
• Deddie Davies ... Nurse
• Tim Potter ... Clown

• Director: Jane Howell
• Produced: Shaun Sutton
• Adapted: William Shakespeare's original play