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This learning pack provides background information, teaching resources, and adaptation details for the Donmar Warehouse production of Coriolanus, directed by Josie Rourke, featuring Tom Hiddleston. Explore the creative team, plot synopsis, and differences from Shakespeare's original text.
Typology: Lecture notes
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This learning pack supports the Donmar
Warehouse production of Coriolanus,
directed by Josie Rourke, which opened
on 6th December 2013 in London.
Our packs are designed to support viewing
the recording on the National Theatre
Collection. This pack provides links to the
UK school curriculum and other
productions in the Collection. It also has a
plot synopsis with timecodes to allow you
to jump to specific sections of the play.
This production is particularly suitable for:
In particular you might like to explore:
There are a number of other productions in the National Theatre Collection that relate to this one, which you and your students may wish to explore alongside it.
Other productions by William Shakespeare
Production Date Director
Macbeth (Schools) 2017 Justin Audibert
Hamlet 2010 Nicholas Hytner
Julius Caesar 2018 Nicholas Hytner
King Lear 2011 Michael Grandage
The Winter's Tale (Schools) (^2018) Justin Audibert
Twelfth Night 2017 Simon Godwin
Romeo and Juliet (Schools) 2018 Bijan Sheibani
Othello (^2013) Nicholas Hytner
Other productions featuring members of the same creative team
Production Date Artist
One Man, Two Guvnors 2011 Mark Henderson - Lighting Designer
Antigone 2012 Mark Henderson - Lighting Designer
Twelfth Night 2017 Michael Bruce - Composer
News arrives that Rome is threatened by a neighbouring tribe, the Volscians. A municipal delegation - the generals Cominius and Lartius, some Senators, and the new tribunes seek Martius' support in repelling the invaders. He agrees, and remarks on his desire to fight the noble Volscian general, Aufidius, who is a former foe. The aristocrats all depart to prepare for war and leave the tribunes, who talk of their hatred of Martius.
Act I, Scene ii (0:09:37): At Corioles, the Volscian Senators meet with Aufidius to plan their campaign. Aufidius will take the field, and the Senators will defend Corioles.
Act I, Scene iii (0:11:26): Martius' mother, Volumnia, berates his wife, Virgilia, because she is not pleased that he has gone to war. She declares that her son's honourable death would bring her more joy than his birth had. She describes the wounds she hopes her son will receive, which will increase his honour, and she mocks Virgilia's revulsion. Valeria enters, bringing the news that Martius and Cominius have Corioles under siege.
Act I, Scene iv (0:16:51): At Corioles, a delegation of Volscian Senators defy the Romans, and combat begins. The Romans retreat. Martius curses them and charges alone through the city's gates. The Romans believe he has been killed, but he emerges covered in blood, and the Romans rally to his support.
Act I, Scenes v - vii: Cut.
Act I, Scene viii (0:22:20): Martius and Aufidius fight. Several Volscians arrive to assist their general, but Martius drives them all away. Aufidius cries out that he has been shamed by their support.
Act I, Scene ix (0:25:07): Back in Rome, the victorious Martius’ name is chanted by soldiers, but he modestly objects to hearing his deeds
praised. Cominius proposes that in honour of his courage he shall hereafter be known as Coriolanus. He washes the blood off his wounds.
Act I, Scene x (0:30:52): Aufidius rages against Martius, who has now defeated him five times. He swears that next time he will not lose even if he must resort to dishonesty.
Act II, Scene i (0:33:05): Menenius berates Sicinius and Brutus for their animosity towards Martius, and he scorns the bad judgment of the common people. Menenius and Volumnia revel in the wounds he will show to the commoners, as tradition demands. Martius, now Coriolanus, returns and is formally welcomed and taken by the aristocrats to the Capitol to receive further honours. The tribunes voice their resentment of Coriolanus, who will now be nominated as consul, the highest office in Rome.
he responds wrathfully and rejects the authority of the common people in insulting terms. The tribunes convict him of treasonous hostility to the people's justice and declare him banished from Rome; the mob takes up the cry. Coriolanus replies angrily that he shall be glad to leave a city controlled by such ignorant commoners, and he departs.
Act IV, Scene i (1:18:58): Coriolanus bids farewell to his family and friends and departs for exile as the citizens hurl fruit at him.
Interval
Act IV, Scene ii (1:24:16): The tribunes encourage the citizens to follow Coriolanus out the gates of the city. Volumnia and Virgilia enter and rage furiously at the victorious tribunes.
Act IV, Scene iii: Cut.
Act IV, Scene iv (1:27:43): Coriolanus, disguised a poor man, arrives in Antium and is directed to Aufidius' house.
Act IV, Scene v (1:30:16): Coriolanus finds Aufidius and tells him bitterly of his banishment; he offers to fight for the Volscians against Rome. Aufidius is ecstatic at encountering his great enemy and threatens to kill him, but then accepts his help and welcomes him.
Act IV, Scene vi (1:40:06): The tribunes reflect how peaceful Rome is now they are in charge. Citizens enter, informing them of rumours that the Volscians are planning an invasion on Rome, led by Coriolanus. Menenius and Cominius upbraid the worried tribunes, who hope that the news will prove untrue.
Act IV, Scene vii (1:46:29): A Volscian Lieutenant worries that Aufidius will be overshadowed by Coriolanus' growing popularity among their soldiers. Aufidius confides that he intends eventually to turn against the Roman.
Act V, Scene i (1:49:11): Cominius reports that Coriolanus, whose Volscian army threatens the city, has refused to meet with him. The tribunes convince Menenius to attempt to beg mercy for the city. Cominius says that Menenius will also fail, and that their only hope lies in Coriolanus' mother and wife.
Act V, Scene ii (1:52:42): Menenius visits the Volscians, but the guards declare that Coriolanus has specifically refused entry to any Roman. When Menenius insists that he is an old friend and will be accepted, they mock him. Coriolanus appears and pointedly rejects Menenius.
Act V, Scene iii (2:02:20): Volumnia, Virgilia, Valeria, and Coriolanus' son, visit him. Coriolanus becomes increasingly upset but rejects their petitions for mercy.
Finally, they convince him to make peace with Rome and exit.
Watch
Coriolanus as Hero
Tom Hiddleston prepares for Coriolanus
Why Coriolanus
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