- Writer:
- John Prebble
- Music:
- David Munrow
- Designer:
- Peter Seddon
- Producer:
- Roderick Graham
- Director:
- Donald McWhinnie
- Philip II, King of Spain:
- Peter Jeffrey
- Philip's son:
- David Parfitt
- Juan de Idiaquez, Secretary to Philip II:
- Christopher Hancock
- Fr Robert Parsons, an English Jesuit:
- Paul Hardwick
- Sir Francis Walsingham, Secretary Of State:
- Stephen Murray
- Sir Francis Drake, Vice-Admiral to Howard:
- John Woodvine
- Elizabeth I:
- Glenda Jackson
- Burghley, Lord Treasurer:
- Ronald Hines
- Marquis of Santa Cruz, first Captain-General:
- Geoffrey Wincott
- John Tregannon, sea captain:
- Michael Culver
- Earl of Leicester, Lieutenant-General:
- Robert Hardy
- Earl of Essex, Master of Horse:
- Robin Ellis
- Dutch envoy:
- Bill Horsley
- Lord Howard of Effingham, Lord High Admiral:
- Peter Howell
- Speaker of the Commons:
- Robert Sansom
- Duke of Medina Sidonia, second:
- Gordon Gostelow
- Luis Cabrera de Cordoba:
- Ian Ricketts
- Young soldier:
- Malcolm McFee
- Old soldier:
- Derek Hardwick
