Details

Canterbury Tales is a bawdy classic written 700 years ago, it centres on a group of pilgrims who entertain one another with stories as they ride to Canterbury Cathedral. But despite the apparently holy purpose of their journey these travellers reveal themselves as sinners rather than saints. The pilgrims contrasting and colourful backgrounds offer many different stories, from the serious and moral to the farcical and bawdy, proving that like Shakespeare after him, Chaucer was 'not for an age but for all time' . Part I consists of The Knight, The Miller and Other Tales. The pilgrims' journey begins with the pageantry and spectacle of The Knight's Tale as chivalrous rivals compete for their love's affections. Later love is of a different vein in the shap of the bawdy Miller's Tale, before the farmyard chaos of the Nun's Priest's Tale as the vain cockerel Chaunticleer is abducted by the wily col-fox.

Cast/Performers

Paola Dionisotti (Prioress), Claire Benedict (Wife of Bath), Michael Jibson, Nick Barber, Daon Broni, Dylan Charles, Lisa Ellis, Christopher Godwin, Michael Hadley, Anna Hewson, Edward Hughes, Michael Matius, Barry McCarthy, Chu Omabala, Ian Pirie, Joshua Richards, Christopher Saul, Katherine Tozer, Darren Tunstall

Creatives/Company

Author: Chaucer
Producer: Royal Shakespeare Company
Adapted by: Mike Poulton
Director(s): Gregory Doran, Rebecca Gatward, Jonathan Munby
Design: Michael Vale