Presented by Dr Oliver Ford Davies

Shakespeare, a great chronicler of the family, seems particularly interested in the murderous rivalry of brothers and father-daughter relations (usually elderly fathers and very young daughters), from Titus Andronicus and Lavinia through to Prospero and Miranda. In his address, Oliver Ford Davies explores what this tells us about Shakespeare’s development as a dramatist.

Dr Oliver Ford Davies was briefly a history lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, but became an actor nearly fifty years ago.  He is an Associate Artist of the RSC, for whom he has appeared in over thirty productions, most recently as Justice Shallow in Henry IV, Part II.  With the National Theatre he won an Olivier Best Actor for Racing Demon, part of the David Hare trilogy. His numerous films range from Star Wars (as Sio Bibble) to Johnny English. His publications include Playing Lear and Performing Shakespeare.