Renaissance Films Collection

The collection comprises a small number of scripts and a brochure, relating to the work of Renaissance Films PLC. Scripts are from the films Henry V (released 1989), and Peter's Friends (1992). The brochure also relates to Henry V.

In October 1988, Stephen Evans (a London stockbroker), Kenneth Branagh and David Parfitt formed Renaissance Films plc, in order to produce a new film version of Shakespeare's Henry V. The film, released in 1989, starred and was directed by Branagh. Subsequent films produced by the company included Peter's Friends and Much Ado About Nothing in 1992, also starring and directed by Branagh. In 1994 Branagh resigned from Renaissance Films, but Evans and Parfitt went on to produce further films, which included The Madness of King George (1994), directed by Nicholas Hytner, Iain Softley's The Wings of the Dove (1997), and Trevor Nunn's Twelfth Night (1997). [Compiled from Branagh, Kenneth, Beginning, Chatto & Windus Ltd., London, 1989); deposited files]

Reference: University of Birmingham, Special Collections Department, Online Archive Catalogue (http://calm.bham.ac.uk/DServeA/). Accessed May 2002.

Material is arranged according to type, and then chronologically by film production.

Open. Access to all registered researchers.

A catalogue is available in electronic format on the University of Birmingham Special Collections website: http://calm.bham.ac.uk/DServeA/ A paper catalogue to file and item level is available in the Shakespeare Institute Library.

Permission to make any published use of any material from the collection must be sought in advance in writing from the University Archivist, Special Collections. Identification of copyright holders of unpublished material is often difficult. Special Collections will assist where possible with identifying copyright owners, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material.

Further deposits are not expected.

Renaissance Theatre Company Collection (GB 2188 DSH02); Henry V (1989), Much Ado About Nothing (1992) and Twelfth Night (1997) can be found in the Shakespeare Institute Library video collection