2. The Shakespeare Code

  • Writer: Gareth Roberts;
  • Produced by: Phil Collinson;
  • Director: Charles Palmer;
  • Music: Murray Gold;

Programme Description

The Doctor takes Martha back to 1599 to see the newly opened Globe theatre, where the Lord Chamberlain's Men were acting in which Shakespeare wrote and performed. Martha shouts for 'author' before asking the Doctor if the phrase is in use yet ... until everyone else starts shouting it. Shortly afterwards Shakespeare appears, although his opening speech leaves Martha a little disillusioned.

Later that evening the Doctor and Martha meet up with Shakespeare, where he writing his new play - Love's Labour Won. Three witches - Carrionites - are watching Shakespeare, and need him to perform his play the following day. When Master of the Revels, Lynley, threatens to cancel the play one of the Carrionite's causes him to vomit water. He dies when the Carrionite stabs a voodoo doll in the heart.

When the Doctor and Martha have gone back to their room a Carrionite puts a spell on to Shakespeare, and whilst he is unconscious controls his body to add extra words on to the play he is writing. The Carrionite is discovered by a maid who is frightened to death. The Doctor and Martha hear the scream and rush to Shakespeare's room. Martha spots a witch on a broomstick.

Regular Cast

  • Martha Jones: Freema Agyeman;

Guest Cast

  • William Shakespeare: Dean Lennox Kelly;
  • Lilith: Christina Cole;
  • Wiggins: Sam Marks;
  • Doomfinger: Amanda Lawrence;
  • Bloodtide: Linda Clark;
  • Dick: Jalaal Hartley;
  • Kempe: David Westhead;
  • Dolly Bailey: Andrée Bernard;
  • Lynley: Chris Larkin;
  • Jailer: Stephen Marcus;
  • Peter Streete: Matt King;
  • Preacher: Robert Demeger;
  • Queen Elizabeth: Angela Pleasence;

  • UNCREDITED CAST:
  • African Maids: Marlene Nwoye, Maxine Green;
  • Manure Man: David Harper;
  • Bucket Woman: Genevieve Cope;
  • Pie Seller: Sean George;
  • Teenagers: Tom Herriot, Jamie Hull, Richard Hull;
  • Crowd: Michelle Leaver, Lorraine Leaver, Dennis Morgan, Robin Phillips, Dominic Cryer, Paul Bateman, James Brett, Stephen Bacon, Pete Russell, John Waudby, Bryan Richards, Marco Magnani, Zac Eisen, Ric Chapman, Jamie Mellor, Russell Honeywell, Nikki McFarland, Athena Blay, Sarah Roberts, Kate Robinson, Lucy La Vey, Joanne Robinson, Michael Wallace, Paul Viagrass, Michael Martin, Alexander Barnes, John Rayment, Spencer Lovell, Michael Barber, Pascal Molliere, Eugene Wood, Demetrius Couppis, Jo MacCrimmon, Paula Jones, Susan Hallett, Diana Clay, Ruth Adams, Janet Kendall, Gina Murphy, Bella Sabbagh, Daryl Adcock, Lindsay Hollingsworth, Nicholas Wilkes, Hannah Welch, Gayle Spedding, Nicholas Cater, Viv Youell, Paula Keogh, Paul Sparrowham, Wendi Sheard, Paul Ganney, Stephen Bracken-Keogh;
  • Urchins: Thomas Bendikas, Richard Stott, Hope Yeomans;
  • Horse handler: John Rose;
  • Chamberlain Men: Robert Tunnicliff, Karl King, Mark Mansi, Tom Laverton, Adam Warwicker, Ros Rowsell, Martin Colton, Michael Vakalis, Andy Gill, Chris Sutton, Tommy Maxwell, Mark Gregory;
  • Audience: Colin Galton, Steve Waldon, Andy Elvin, Alan Pople, Dave Bailey, Steve Whaites, Paul Wiggins, Alex Dillow, Joanna Brown, Suzanne Fredericks, Lesley Dring, Susanna Tookey, Vanessa Bailey, Diana Clay, Samantha Link, Will Downie, Paul Bellamy, Emily Biles, Gerald Bowman, Richard Daniels, Christopher Hogben, Terry Mockler, Gemma Nicholls, Matthew Rouse, Joanne Symon, Peter Wood, Philip Gould, Philipa Burt, Tom Sanderson, Thomas Buchanan, Jeremy Holdcroft, Robin Beer, Max Underwood, Phil K-Dobson, Katie Russell, Shirley Gillespie, Nicci Brighten, Beth Partridge, Michelle Leaver, Lorraine Leaver, Dennis Morgan, Robin Phillips, Dominic Cryer, Paul Bateman, James Brett, Stephen Bacon, Pete Russell, John Waudby, Bryan Richards, Marco Magnani, Zac Eisen, Ric Chapman, Jamie Mellor, Russell Honeywell, Nikki McFarland, Athena Blay, Sarah Roberts, Kate Robinson, Lucy La Vey, Joanne Robinson, Michael Wallace, Paul Viagrass, Michael Martin, Alexander Barnes, John Rayment, Spencer Lovell, Michael Barber, Pascal Molliere, Eugene Wood, Demetrius Couppis, Jo MacCrimmon, Paula Jones, Susal Hallett, Diana Clay, Ruth Adams, Janet Kendall, Samantha Harrington, Bella Sabbagh, Kimberley Wyld, Zoe Jefferies, Anne Edwards, Hal Benson, Muriel Smith, Hugh Holman, Nigel Allen, Jamie Lee, Carl Taggart, Allan Jones, Andrew Ellis, Charles De Paula, Andy Watts, Kris Williams, Robert O'Neil, Jade Culpit, Louise Harrison, Anna Rudolph, Nina Huggett, Suzanne Downes;
  • Hand double for Shakespeare: Peter McKinstry;
  • Passers-by: Tom Sanderson, Thomas Buchanan, Jeremy Holdcroft, Robin Beer, Max Underwood, Phil K-Dobson, Katie Russell, Shirley Gillespie, Nicci Brighten, Beth Partidge;
  • Bedlam Inmates: Adrian Ledbury, Chris Mahoney, Simon Lewis, Chris Lubus, John Mallin;
  • Posh Doubles: Tom Sanderson, Thomas Buchanan, Jeremy Holdcroft, Robin Beer, Max Underwood, Phil K-Dobson, Katie Russell, Shirley Gillespie, Nicci Brighten, Beth Partridge, Michelle Leaver, Nikki McFarland;
  • Trumpeter: Rob Brinton/John Walker;
  • Double for Dick: Joseph Lippiat;
  • Queen Guards: Richard Manlove, Rob Grundy, Dale Mullins;

Transmissions

ChannelEpisodeTitleDateViewersPosition
BBC 1 2 The Shakespeare Code Sat 7 Apr 2007 719:00 - 19:45 7.2M 14th

Repeat Transmissions

ChannelTitleDateViewersPosition
BBC 3 The Shakespeare Code Sun 8 Apr 2007 20:00 - 20:45 1.0M 1st
BBC 3 The Shakespeare Code Fri 13 Apr 2007 21:00 - 21:45 0.5M 9th
BBC 3 The Shakespeare Code Sun 15 Jul 2007 19:00 - 19:45
BBC 3 The Shakespeare Code Mon 3 Sep 2007 19:00 - 19:45
BBC 3 The Shakespeare Code Sun 9 Dec 2007 19:00 - 19:45
BBC 3 The Shakespeare Code Fri 4 Jan 2008 20:15 - 21:00
BBC 3 The Shakespeare Code Mon 17 Nov 2008 19:45 - 20:30
BBC 3 The Shakespeare Code Tue 24 Feb 2009 19:00 - 19:45
BBC 3 The Shakespeare Code Thu 7 May 2009 19:00 - 19:45
BBC 3 The Shakespeare Code Tue 15 Sep 2009 19:00 - 19:45
BBC 3 The Shakespeare Code Wed 4 Nov 2009 19:00 - 19:45
BBC 3 The Shakespeare Code Wed 10 Feb 2010 20:15 - 21:00
BBC 3 The Shakespeare Code Fri 15 Oct 2010 19:00 - 19:45

Locations

  • Ford's Hospital, Greyfriars Lane, Coventry;
  • Cheylesmore Manor, New Union Street, Coventry;
  • Lord Leycester's Hospital, High Street, Warwick;
  • Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, London;
  • Newport Indoor Market, Upper Dock Street, Newport;
  • Unit H1, Colchester Avenue Industrial Estate, Cardiff;
  • Market Tavern, Market Road, Pontypridd;
  • Lloyds TSB, Tresillian Way, Cardiff;

Studios

  • Upper Boat Studios, Trefforest;

Bloopers and Mistakes

This programme has no bloopers or mistakes. It's probably not perfect, just that they haven't been found or pointed out yet

Notes and Trivia

There is nothing to add about this programme

Working Titles

Theatre Of Death
Web Hosting by Pipe Ten Contact Nigel Ellis

Bookmark and Share