Pick one of these moments, settings or relationships from The Comedy of Errors to investigate how they have been staged in performance.
As you explore you will find picture galleries from past productions and things to consider as you look at these.
Investigate this world
All the action in The Comedy of Errors takes place in the city of Ephesus, a bustling marketplace where ships come and go from around the world. Ephesus has strict rules, particularly for anyone visiting from Syracuse, an enemy city. Egeon, a Syracusan merchant, arrives illegally to find his lost wife and son and is sentenced to death unless he can pay a hefty fine. The look of Ephesus when Egeon (and Antipholus) first arrive as desperate strangers is important in setting the tone of a production of the play.
Take a look at the Things to Consider and investigate the different ways we’ve staged Duke Solinus’ world in past productions in this picture gallery.
Egeon is arrested in the 2000 production.
Duke Solinus and Antipholus of Syracuse in the 2000 production.
Egeon is arrested in the 2012 production.
Egeon is arrested in the 2021 production.
Duke Solinus in the 2005 production.
Duke Solinus in the 2021 production.
Ephesus in the 1939 production.
As you look through the images and photographs from past productions of The Comedy of Errors, think about:
Investigate these characters
The Dromios are so alike that no one, not even Dromio of Ephesus’ wife Nell, can tell them apart. Shakespeare uses twins in other plays for comic and dramatic effect and it is always a great moment when they are seen together for the first time. Here, the Dromios are not seen together until the very end of the play.
Take a look at the Things to Consider and investigate the different ways we’ve staged the Dromio twins in past productions in this picture gallery.
The two Dromio twins in 1864.
The Dromio twins in the 2005 production.
The Dromio twins in the 2000 production.
The Dromio twins in the 2012 production.
The two Dromios in the 2021 production.
Investigate this scene
Antipholus of Ephesus is married to Adriana, a rich woman. He has quite a reputation in Ephesus and has lots of servants, including Luce and Nell the kitchen maid. The moment when he is locked out of his house and half the household shout at him through his own door is one of the key comic scenes in the play, particularly as neither Dromio realises they are talking to their own twin.
Take a look at the Things to Consider and investigate the different ways we’ve staged Antipholus of Ephesus’ door in past productions in this picture gallery.
The Dromio twins are separated by the door in the 2012 production.
The door in the 2009 Young People's Shakespeare production.
The Dromio twins on opposite sides of the door in the 2005 production.
The two Dromios talk through an invisible door in the 2021 production.
Trying to break down the door in the 2007 production.
Investigate this moment
The Reunion in Act 5 takes place outside the priory, a place of sanctuary in Ephesus. Most of the cast are on stage at this point. There is much confusion to be sorted, many characters who need to be able to see each other for the first time and have their ‘moment’. Any production has to think carefully about how to stage this scene.
Take a look at the Things to Consider and investigate the different ways we’ve staged the Reunion in past productions in this picture gallery.
The Abbess with the two Antipholus twins in the 2021 production.
The Abbess and the reunited families in the 2000 production.
The Abbess explains in the 2009 Young People's Shakespeare production.
The two Antipholus twins reunite as the Abbess looks on in the 2005 production.
The Abbess appears in the 1938 production.
The Abbess reunites the two Antipholus twins in the 2007 production.
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