Antony and Cleopatra

Following the death of Julius Caesar, the Roman Empire is ruled by Antony, Octavius Caesar and Lepidus. Antony resides in Egypt and is completely captivated by its Queen, Cleopatra. But circumstances beyond his control force him to return to Rome and marry Caesar' s sister, Octavia. When Antony abandons his new wife and travels back to Egypt, Caesar declares war on the star-crossed lovers. Anthony and Cleopatra is Shakespeare at his best. With a mix of politics and romance, this play is wonderfully complex and intellectually stimulating. The Royal Shakespeare Company has seen many productions of the play, starring Michael Gambon and Helen Mirren in 1982 and Patrick Stewart and Harriet Walter in 2006.