180) THE SHAKESPEARE CODE

7 April 2007

Viewing Figure: 7.2M

Plot

In Elizabethan London, the hideous Carrionites plan to use one of Shakespeare's plays as a weapon to destroy the Earth

Cast

David Tennant (The Doctor, Freema Agyeman (Martha Jones), Dean Lennox Kelly (Shakespeare), Christina Cole (Lilith), Sam Marks (Wiggins)

Amanda Lawrence (Doomfinger), Linda Clark (Bloodtide), Jalaal Hartley (Dick), David Westhead (Kempe), Andree Bernard (Dolly Bailey)

Chris Larkin (Lynley), Stephen Marcus (Jailer), Matt King (Peter Streete), Robert Demeger (Preacher), Angela Pleasence (Queen Elizabeth)

Uncredited Cast

Marlene Nwoye, Maxine Green (African Maids), Tom Herriot, Jamie Hull, Richard Hull (Teenagers), John Rose (Horse Handler)

Robert Tunnicliff, Karl King, Mark Mansi, Tom Laverton, Adam Warwicker, Ros Roswell, Martin Colton, Michael Vakalis, Andy Gill

Chris Sutton, Tommy Maxwell, Mark Gregory (Lord Chamberlain's Men), Adrian Ledbury, Chris Mahoney, Simon Lewis, Chris Lubus

John Mallin (Bedlam Inmates), Richard Manlove, Rob Grundy, Dale Mullins (Queen Guards)

Crew

Gareth Roberts (Writer), Phil Collinson (Producer), Charles Palmer (Director), Gareth Williams (1st Assistant Director)

Steffan Morris (2nd Assistant Director), Sarah Davies (3rd Assistant Director), Gareth Skelding (Location Manager)

Rhys Griffiths (Unit Manager), Jess van Niekerk (Production Co-ordinator), Kevin Myers (Production Secretary)

Debi Griffiths (Production Assistant), Sian Eve Goldsmith (Production Runner), Barry Phillips (Floor Runner)

Kath Blackman (Contracts Assistant), Non Eleri Hughes (Continuity), Simon Winstone (Script Editor), Steve Rees (Focus Pullers)

Steven Hall (2nd Camera Operator), John Robinson (Grip), Jeff Welch (Boom Operator), Mark Hutchings (Gaffer)

Peter Chester (Best Boy), Tom Lucy, Crispin Layfield (Stunt Co-ordinators), Maxine Whittaker (Stunt Performer), Bob Schofield (Wires)

Stephen Nicholas (Chief Supervising Art Director), Jonathan Marquand Allison (Art Dept Production Manager)

Matthew North (Art Dep Co-ordinator), Adrian Anscombe (Chief Props Master), Arwel Wyn Jones (Supervising Art Director)

James North (Associate Designer), David Morison (Set Decorator), Tim Dickel (Standby Art Director)

Peter McKinstry, Ben Austin (Design Assistants), Jon Grundon (Cyfle Trainee), Phill Shellard, Clive Clarke (Standby Props)

Paul Jones (Standby Carpenter), Ellen Woods(Standby Painter), Bryan Griffiths (Standby Rigger), Phil Lyons (Property Master)

Catherine Samuel (Props Buyer), Barry Jones (Senior Props Maker), Penny Howarth, Mark Cordory, Nick Robatto (Props Makers)

Matthew Hywel-Davies (Construction Manager), Allen Jones (Construction Chargehand), BBC Wales Graphics (Graphics)

Marnie Orminston (Asst Costume Designer), Lindsay Bonaccorsi (Costume Supervisor)

Sheenagh O'Marah, Kirsty Wilkinson (Costume Assistants), Pam Mullins Steve Smith, John Munro (Make-Up Artists)

Andy Brierley (Casting Associate), Ceres Doyle (Assistant Editor), Samantha Hall, Chris Blatchford (Post Production Supervisors)

Marie Brown (Post Production Co-ordinator), Ben Ashmore (Special Effects Co-ordinator), Paul Kelly (Special Effects Supervisor)

Neill Gorton (Prosthetics Designer), Rob Mayor (Prosthetics Supervisor), Matthew Clarke (On Line Editor), Mick Vincent (Colourist)

Nick Webber, Chris Tucker, Andy Guest, Bruce Magroune (3D Artists), Sara Bennett, Melissa Butler-Adams, Russell Horth

Bryan Bartlett, Joseph Courtis, Adam Rowland (2D Artists), Jenna Powell, Rebecca Johnson (Visual Effects Co-ordinators)

Alex Fort, Simon Wicker (Digital Matte Painters), Barney Curnow (On Set VFX Supervisor), Tim Ricketts (Dubbing Mixer)

Paul McFadden (Supervising Sound Editor), Doug Sinclair (Sound Editor), Paul Jefferies (Sound FX Editor)

Chris Rogers (Finance Manager), with thanks to the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Ron Grainer (Original Theme Music)

Andy Pryor CDG (Casting Director), Julian Scott (Production Executive), Endaf Emyr Williams (Production Accountant)

Julian Howarth (Sound Recordist), Louise Page (Costume Designer), Sheelagh Wells (Make-Up Designer), Murray Gold (Music)

The Mill (Visual Effects), Will Cohen, Marie Jones (Visual FX Producers), Dave Houghton (Visual FX Supervisor)

Any Effects (Special Effects), Millennium FX (Porspethics), Matthew Tabern (Editor), Edward Thomas (Production Designer)

Ernie Vincze BSC (Director of Photography), Patrick Schweitzer (Production Manager), Russell T Davies, Julie Gardner (Executive Producers)

Uncredited Crew

Jennie Fava, Dafydd Parry (2nd Assistant Director), Huw Jones (Unt Manager), Lowri Denman (Floor Runner), Pam Humphries (Continuity)

Sian Elin Palfrey, Rory Taylor, Roger Pearce, Tim Dodd, Peter Thorton (2nd Camera Operator), Chris Hughes, Mike Hawk (Grip)

Bryn Thomas (Boom Operator), Ian Chapman (Costume Assistant), Morag Smith, Richard Muller (Make-Up Artists), Ron Bailey (Sound Recordist)

Broadcast

Filming Locations

Upper Boat Studios, Trefforest
Ford's Hospital, Greyfriars Lane, Coventry
Cheylesmore Manor, New Union Street, Coventry
The Lord Leycester 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

Deaths

Wiggins [ripped to shreds by the Carrionites]
Dolly Bailey [dies of fright brought on by Lilith]
Lynley [drowned on dry land via a Poppet doll]
Peter Streete [killed by Doomfinger with a single touch]

Production Days

20 Days between Wednesday 23 August - Friday 13 October 2006

Production Errors

Whilst Lilith is charming The Doctor, she first strokes his hair behind his ear. In the next shot, she is touching his sideburns, then in the following shot, she is stroking his hair behind his ear again
Whilst the crowd at the Globe chant "author", one of the wooden beams has 'Bay J' painted on it. This is part of the reconstructed Globe, and would not be apart of the original

Working Titles

Theatre of Death
Theatre of Doom
Love Labours Won

76) THE ARK IN SPACE

Verdict

Now we get to the good stuff. I mean the really good stuff. The Shakespeare Code perfectly captures the beauty and horror of Elizabethan society and culture. The story is full of energy in every scene – beautiful costumes, unbelievable filming locations, sets steeped in Gothic design, a great colour palette, a soundtrack very fitting for the story’s setting and a story full of magic and science. Gareth Roberts provides a very poetic script, a homage to the works of Shakespeare and theatre in the sixteenth century. The Carrionites are very original, a species which has created a science based on words than maths. The story is humorous, witty, and even dark – the scenes in Bedlam perfectly capture the attitude and treatment that awaited people, who in the sixteenth century who were deemed as mad. The cast is beyond brilliant with a wide range of talents who capture the spirit of the script too perfection. A right treat which demonstrates historical 'Doctor Who' at its finest. *****

Number of Production Days: 5