Timeline of Events
From the Ancients to the Millennials
60 B.C.E.
The first triumvirate between Julius Caesar, Pompey the Great, and Marcus Crassus was formed.
The First Triumvirate
44 B.C.E.
Caesar Claims Dictatorship
Julius Caesar proclaims himself dictator for life after marching an army into Rome and defeating his political opponents. Just a month later, he is assassinated by the senate.
43 B.C.E.
The second triumvirate between Marc Antony, Octavian, and Lepidus is formed.
The Second Triumvirate
30 B.C.E.
The Death of Antony and Cleopatra
Antony and Cleopatra die after a fierce civil war, where they fought Octavian for Rome. After numerous lost battles, Octavian managed to triumph and conquered not only the eastern part of the empire but also Egypt.
1564 C.E.
Shakespeare Is Born
William Shakespeare is born in April to John and Mary Shakespeare in a town near Stratford. He goes on to write many successful works as a playwright, becoming one of the most well-known theatrical authors of all time.
1606 C.E.
Shakespeare writes the play Antony and Cleopatra in a string of additional historical plays.
Antony and Cleopatra Is Written
1606 C.E.
Antony and Cleopatra Is First Performed
The play Antony and Cleopatra is first performed by the King's Men at the either the Blackfriars Theatre or the Globe Theatre.
1616 C.E.
Shakespeare Dies
William Shakespeare passes away in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. The cause of death is still a mystery, but one theory is it was due to partying too hard.
1759 C.E.
Drury Lane Production
Antony and Cleopatra is performed again at Drury Lane by David Garrick in a "modern" and shortened version. This had a great amount of success.
1813 C.E.
Covet Garden Production
A shortened version of Antony and Cleopatra is performed by John Philip Kemble at Covet Garden. This had a fully fleshed out Battle of Actium scene, with a full funeral procession and a 45-person choir.
1841 C.E.
Sadler Wells Production
At Sadler Wells, Samuel Phelps produced a version of Antony and Cleopatra that featured a large spectacle in the triumph scene with dozens of actors playing out a parade through Rome. This was in the center of the "pomp and circumstance" movement, where Antony and Cleopatra became more and more extravagant.
1873 C.E.
Drury Lane Production
This was one of the most extravagant productions, put on by Mark Chatterton that featured only 12 scenes. This had some of the most flushed out battle scenes with entire mock naval battles, barge scenes, and a 30 man choir.
1922 C.E.
The Old Vic Production
This marked the return to the original play, rather than creating massive spectacles. This was put on by Robert Atkins, whose work remained popular for the better half of a decade.
1966 C.E.
Barber's Antony and Cleopatra
This rendition took the form of an Opera, produced by Samuel Barber. It was supposed to be his magnum opus but had a poor reception.
1972 C.E.
Antony and Cleopatra, the Movie
This movie, directed by Charles Heston, was an attempt to bring Antony and Cleopatra to the big screen. Sadly, this movie turned out to be a massive flop.
1981 C.E.
Hartford Stage Production
Produced by Mark Lamos, this performance returned to the opulent battle themes of the past. Large mock battles were held, but the execution of them was not well received.
2002 C.E.
Conelly Theatre Production
Performed by the Queen Company, this production was done by an all-female and transgender cast. Their costumes and music excelled at bringing the old story to life, but the lack of scene backgrounds detracted from the immersion. Overall, this was relatively well received.
2009 C.E.
Barbican Theatre Events
Produced by Van Hove, this all Dutch production was extremely well executed. They used a blend of modern technology and the ancient play to accentuate history's repetition as well as make insightful commentary on the information age itself.
2010 C.E.
Hartford Stage Production
This was a modern production of the play, created by Tina Landau. It featured the Romans as modern "Nazis" and the Egyptians as hedonistic and cultured. They utilized the cultural difference to create a modern interpretation that worked just as well as the origional.
2010 C.E.
Maynardville Open Air Theatre Production
Directed by Marthinus Basson, this version of Antony and Cleopatra was a modern take on the old story. Rome was a bureaucratic corporation while Egypt was a cultured group. This play explored gender roles and sexism, which were hot topics in South Africa, where this was performed.
2014 C.E.
Globe Theatre Production
Directed by Jonathan Munby, his Antony and Cleopatra took the form of a dramatic comedy. The audience loved the subtle humor and nuances within the performance.
2015 C.E.
Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Directed by Bill Rauch, this was performed at an outdoor festival, taking advantage of natural light. It used minimalism and natural effects to amplify the audience's enjoyment. The only issue with the play was the occasional difficulty in hearing actors due to the lack of an indoor sound system.
2018 C.E.
Oliver Theatre Production
I actually was able to see this in person. The play was a wonderfully modern take on the age-old play, performed by the National Theatre. They used the already destroyed unities in the play and expanded on them. This was defining in the performance, capitalizing on the lack of unity.