Gower Resurrected

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).