Emrys James brings John Gower to life in this 1969 production of
Shakespeare's "Pericles, Prince of Tyre" (dir. Tony Hands, Royal
Shakespeare Company, Royal Shakespeare Theatre).
In the opening scene of the play (depicted here), Shakespeare
resurrects the ghost of "ancient Gower," who
acts as the play's narrator. Gower tells an exciting tale of romance
and incest (derived from the story
of Apollonius of Tyre in "Confessio Amantis," Book VIII). "To sing a
song that old was sung/From ashes ancient Gower is come,/To glad your
ear and please your eyes...I tell you what mine authors say" (1.1-20).
You may also wish to see this
photograph of
an earlier production of the same play (different actor portraying
Gower).