"If you add in the four productions running at the RSC
in Stratford – with David
Tennant’s hotly anticipated Richard II still to come – the
weight of interest in our national playwright becomes overwhelming."
excerpt from The Telegraph article Why is there so much Shakespeare on stage - Sarah Crompton September 27, 2013
"Richard II
- David Tennant tackles Shakespeare's most lyric king. Gregory Doran directs."
mentioned in the Autumn Hot List - the seasons unmissable events in The Sunday Times - compiled by Katy Hayes, Eithne Shortall, Mel Clarke, Lauren Murphy and Cristin Leach Hughes- September 15, 2013
"Richard II
- David Tennant
plays Shakespeare's flawed king in the opening salvo of Gregory
Doran's new RSC regime. A strong supporting cast includes
Nigel Lindsay as Bolingbroke and Michael Pennington as John of Gaunt;
much is expected given the huge success of the Tennant-Doran
Hamlet in 2008."
The Guardian's critics' picks of
the autumn's music, stage, film and design - Michael Billington and Lyn - September 2, 2013
"Richard II
- David Tennant
joins forces again with director Greg Doran to portray the petulant and poetic Shakespearean king. Tickets are gold
dust for the Stratford run. It transfers to the Barbican in December and there's another chance to see it when it is filmed
and relayed to 100 UK cinemas on 17 November."
from The Independent's 50 best Autumn arts picked by Ben Walsh, Elisa Bray, Michael Church, Adrian Hamilton, Zoe Anderson, Paul Taylor - August 31, 2013
"Richard II
David Tennant
returns to the RSC as Shakespeare's weak, lyrically eloquent, doomed young King in a production directed by the new
artistic director Greg Doran."
from The Times - Our critics pick the best of the new season so
that you won't miss a thing - August 30, 2013
September 27, 2013
September 20, 2013
RICHARD II Cast Gears Up for October Opening at RSC
From BroadwayWorld.com Posted September 19, 2013:
Rehearsals are well underway for a star-studded production of RICHARD II that opens at the Royal Shakespeare Company
in Stratford-upon-Avon on 10 October. The highly anticipated
production, which sold out months in advance of the opening, marks
Gregory Doran's inaugural production as Artistic Director.
The historical play brings together some of Britain's most revered classical performers. David Tennant,
who previously played Hamlet at the RSC, stars in the title role as
King Richard, a monarch brought to ruin by his own weaknesses. Tennant
is joined in the cast by Olivier Award-winner Oliver Ford Davies as the Duke of York and Michael Pennington as John of Gaunt.
Click here to read the rest of the great interview with Jane.
September 19, 2013
Working with Greg is like working with an expert archeologist who knows exactly where to dig,
Check out Elliot Barnes-Worrell blog entry on the RSC's Whispers From the Wings. He talks about working with director Greg Doran and gives us a bit of trivia - Oliver Ford Davies that he played the same role as he did the first time he was ever in Richard II - Groom
Read the blog here.
Read the blog here.
September 17, 2013
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Production Diary 3 | Richard II | Royal Shakespeare Company - Cast Visits Westminster Abby
The cast also went to visit the Coronation Exhibit:
September 14, 2013
Jane Lapotaire - Duchess of Gloucester
Jane Lapotaire is Honorary President of the Bristol Old Vic Theatre Club,and is the President of the Friends of Shakespeare's Globe.
She played lead in Piaf at The Plymouth theatre in New York (now the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre) for which she won a Tony for Best Actress.
Janet's first appearance at the RSC was in the 1974 season in Twelfth Night, Macbeth and Uncle Vanya. Since then she has graced their stages many times including playing Gertrude in Hamlet, Queen Katherine in Henry VIII, Rosaline in Love's Labour's Lost and the lead in Piaf before the show went to New York.
In the late 60's and early 70's she worked with the National Theatre Company at the Old Vic Theatre in numerous productions including Oedipus, The Way of the World, The White Devil, The Merchant of Venice and A Shorter Back To Methusalah.
Piaf was made into a TV movie in 1974 and she has also played Lady MacBeth and Cleopatra on television. She has also appeared in many mini-series including Napoleon and Josephine: A Love Story, Blind Justice, Uncle Silas, Ain't Misbehavin' and most recently He Knew He Was Right.
Click here to read her full CV.
In 2003 she wrote a book called Time Out of Mind about her recovery from suffering from a cerebral haemorrhage.
She will be playing the Duchess of Gloucester in Richard II.
"The Duchess of Gloucester is the widow of Thomas of Woodstock, the Duke of Gloucester. The Duchess tries to convince her brother-in-law, John of Gaunt, to avenge her husband's death. But Gaunt refuses, because King Richard is responsible, and Gaunt thinks it's more important for him to be loyal to the king than his own flesh and blood. The Duchess' grief over her husband's death, along with her insistence that Gaunt find some way to get justice, really captures the mood of the kingdom. Gaunt tells the Duchess that she can't do anything except wait for God to punish Richard. Feeling hopeless and grief-stricken, later, we learn the Duchess has died." - shmoop.com
She played lead in Piaf at The Plymouth theatre in New York (now the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre) for which she won a Tony for Best Actress.
Janet's first appearance at the RSC was in the 1974 season in Twelfth Night, Macbeth and Uncle Vanya. Since then she has graced their stages many times including playing Gertrude in Hamlet, Queen Katherine in Henry VIII, Rosaline in Love's Labour's Lost and the lead in Piaf before the show went to New York.
In the late 60's and early 70's she worked with the National Theatre Company at the Old Vic Theatre in numerous productions including Oedipus, The Way of the World, The White Devil, The Merchant of Venice and A Shorter Back To Methusalah.
 |
| Photo: Chava Eichner |
Click here to read her full CV.
In 2003 she wrote a book called Time Out of Mind about her recovery from suffering from a cerebral haemorrhage.
She will be playing the Duchess of Gloucester in Richard II.
"The Duchess of Gloucester is the widow of Thomas of Woodstock, the Duke of Gloucester. The Duchess tries to convince her brother-in-law, John of Gaunt, to avenge her husband's death. But Gaunt refuses, because King Richard is responsible, and Gaunt thinks it's more important for him to be loyal to the king than his own flesh and blood. The Duchess' grief over her husband's death, along with her insistence that Gaunt find some way to get justice, really captures the mood of the kingdom. Gaunt tells the Duchess that she can't do anything except wait for God to punish Richard. Feeling hopeless and grief-stricken, later, we learn the Duchess has died." - shmoop.com
"Yet one word more: grief boundeth where it falls,
Not with the empty hollowness, but weight:
I take my leave before I have begun,
For sorrow ends not when it seemeth done."
Not with the empty hollowness, but weight:
I take my leave before I have begun,
For sorrow ends not when it seemeth done."
September 13, 2013
Elliot Barnes-Worrell - Groom
Elliot Barnes-Worrell might be familiar to Whovians - he played the Athlete in the 11th Doctor Olympic special episode Good as Gold.
He also starred in The Loneliness of the Long Distant Runner at the York Theatre Royal in 2012.
This is the trailer from the play:
"Elliot Barnes-Worrell's extraordinary performance as banged-up Colin Smith is a glorious tour de force of pent up rage."
The Independent ****
"Elliot Barnes-Worrell not only puts in an aggressively charismatic performance as Alan Sillitoe's antisocial athlete..." - The Guardian ****
"Elliot Barnes-Worrell plays Colin Smith, long-distance runner, with awesome athleticism and moving commitment." - The Observer
You can read all about him on his webpage - here.
Elliot will be playing the part of The Groom in Richard II:
He also starred in The Loneliness of the Long Distant Runner at the York Theatre Royal in 2012.
This is the trailer from the play:
"Elliot Barnes-Worrell's extraordinary performance as banged-up Colin Smith is a glorious tour de force of pent up rage."
The Independent ****
"Elliot Barnes-Worrell not only puts in an aggressively charismatic performance as Alan Sillitoe's antisocial athlete..." - The Guardian ****
"Elliot Barnes-Worrell plays Colin Smith, long-distance runner, with awesome athleticism and moving commitment." - The Observer
You can read all about him on his webpage - here.
Elliot will be playing the part of The Groom in Richard II:
|
I was a poor groom of thy stable, king,
When thou wert king; who, travelling towards York, With much ado at length have gotten leave To look upon my sometimes royal master's face. |
September 12, 2013
Antony Byrne - Mowbray
Antony Byrne has appeared several times in Doctors, Coronation Street, Emmerdale and The Bill in addition to one off appearances in numerous other shows.
His stage work includes several productions with the RSC including The Phoenician Woman, Julius Caesar, Anthony and Cleopatra and The Tempest.
Anthony has also been directed by Greg Doran previously in the 2002 production of The Island Princess.
His most recent theatre performances include his second time being directed by Polly Teale in Bracken Moore at The Tricycle Theatre and After Troy at The Oxford Playhouse.
Click here to see his complete CV.
He will be portraying Thomas Mowbray in Richard II.
"Mowbray only appears within the first act of Richard II where his conflict with Bolingbroke is displayed. He is portrayed as a man who is a loyal subject and will only do evil deeds when he is directly ordered to by his king. When Richard announces that he shall be exiled from the kingdom for life, he is saddened, but accepts responsibility for his past actions and willingly departs. Later in the play, the Bishop of Carlisle briefly announces that Mowbray has died in exile." - http://www.shakespeareandhistory.com
His stage work includes several productions with the RSC including The Phoenician Woman, Julius Caesar, Anthony and Cleopatra and The Tempest.
Anthony has also been directed by Greg Doran previously in the 2002 production of The Island Princess.
His most recent theatre performances include his second time being directed by Polly Teale in Bracken Moore at The Tricycle Theatre and After Troy at The Oxford Playhouse.
Click here to see his complete CV.
He will be portraying Thomas Mowbray in Richard II.
"Mowbray only appears within the first act of Richard II where his conflict with Bolingbroke is displayed. He is portrayed as a man who is a loyal subject and will only do evil deeds when he is directly ordered to by his king. When Richard announces that he shall be exiled from the kingdom for life, he is saddened, but accepts responsibility for his past actions and willingly departs. Later in the play, the Bishop of Carlisle briefly announces that Mowbray has died in exile." - http://www.shakespeareandhistory.com
Let not my cold words here accuse my zeal:
'Tis not the trial of a woman's war,
The bitter clamour of two eager tongues,
Can arbitrate this cause betwixt us twain;
The blood is hot that must be cool'd for this:
Yet can I not of such tame patience boast
As to be hush'd and nought at all to say:
'Tis not the trial of a woman's war,
The bitter clamour of two eager tongues,
Can arbitrate this cause betwixt us twain;
The blood is hot that must be cool'd for this:
Yet can I not of such tame patience boast
As to be hush'd and nought at all to say:
September 11, 2013
Sean Chapman - Northumberland
Sean Chapman has been gracing TV screens for several decades, mostly as a tough guy. He can be found in classics like The Professionals, Bergerac, The Bill, Absolutely Fabulous, Peak Practice and Casualty. He even appeared in the TV movie K-9 and Company: A Girl's Best Friend!
He was seen most recently in the five part drama The Case as Mark Metezler.
If you are a horror fan you'll recognize Sean as Frank Cotton from Hellraiser and Hellraiser II.
His stage work includes the 2006 production of David Hare's translation of Maxim Gorky's play and "Enemies", at the Almeida Theatre, 2008's A Prayer For My Daughter' at the Young Vic Theatre. He has also work several times at The National Theatre.
Sean is also an author and has recently published two novels The Blood in the Moon and A Distant Prospect, available on Amazon!
You can check out his blog here.
He will be portraying Northumberland in Richard II.
"Shakespeare portrays Northumberland in an extremely negative light. In Richard II, he resorts to trickery to get Richard to submit to him and continuously nags him to look over a document of the people's grievances. Although Shakespeare portrays the earl as both deceitful and cowardly, he gives him a small amount of credit at the end of the history cycle. It may not seem fair though, to give such a small tribute to a man who appears to have fought valiantly in a last ditch effort to overthrow a king he made a mistake in putting on the throne" - http://www.shakespeareandhistory.com
He was seen most recently in the five part drama The Case as Mark Metezler.
If you are a horror fan you'll recognize Sean as Frank Cotton from Hellraiser and Hellraiser II.
His stage work includes the 2006 production of David Hare's translation of Maxim Gorky's play and "Enemies", at the Almeida Theatre, 2008's A Prayer For My Daughter' at the Young Vic Theatre. He has also work several times at The National Theatre.
 |
| Pictured here with Colin Morgan from A Prayer for My Daughter |
Sean is also an author and has recently published two novels The Blood in the Moon and A Distant Prospect, available on Amazon!
You can check out his blog here.
He will be portraying Northumberland in Richard II.
"Shakespeare portrays Northumberland in an extremely negative light. In Richard II, he resorts to trickery to get Richard to submit to him and continuously nags him to look over a document of the people's grievances. Although Shakespeare portrays the earl as both deceitful and cowardly, he gives him a small amount of credit at the end of the history cycle. It may not seem fair though, to give such a small tribute to a man who appears to have fought valiantly in a last ditch effort to overthrow a king he made a mistake in putting on the throne" - http://www.shakespeareandhistory.com
"His noble kinsman: most degenerate king!
But, lords, we hear this fearful tempest sing,
Yet see no shelter to avoid the storm;
We see the wind sit sore upon our sails,
And yet we strike not, but securely perish."
But, lords, we hear this fearful tempest sing,
Yet see no shelter to avoid the storm;
We see the wind sit sore upon our sails,
And yet we strike not, but securely perish."
September 10, 2013
Marty Cruickshank - Duchess of York
Marty Cruickshank has been scene on TV in everything from Z Cars to The Bill, Midsomer Murders, Doctors, Inspector Lewis and many more.
She has also been on stage in Chekhov's play, "The Cherry Orchard," at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford, Alan Ayckbourn's play, "Absurd Person Singular," at the Criterion Theatre in London, Sam Shepard's play, "Buried Child," at Hampstead Theatre, Louise Page's play, "Beauty and the Beast," at the Old Vic.
This is not her first appearance with the RSC she was Gertrude in the 2001 production of Hamlet. Also in 2001 she appeared in "Love in a Wood" and "Robin Hood"
She has also been on stage in Chekhov's play, "The Cherry Orchard," at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford, Alan Ayckbourn's play, "Absurd Person Singular," at the Criterion Theatre in London, Sam Shepard's play, "Buried Child," at Hampstead Theatre, Louise Page's play, "Beauty and the Beast," at the Old Vic.
This is not her first appearance with the RSC she was Gertrude in the 2001 production of Hamlet. Also in 2001 she appeared in "Love in a Wood" and "Robin Hood"
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| Marty Cruikshank as Brigida in 2011 RSC;s The Heresy of Love. Photo by Robert Day.
She will play the Duchess of York in Richard II. She's the only maternal figure in the play. When York turns
viciously on his son and decides to go tell the king to kill him for
treason, she tries to stop him and eventually shows up at court to beg for
her son's life.
Aside
from this moment, we don't see much of the Duchess of York, but she's a
pretty important figure nevertheless. When she opposes her husband and
defends her son to the king, she shows us that, for some, family loyalty
is much more important than loyalty to the king. - shmoop.com
"Pleads he in earnest? look upon his face; His eyes do drop no tears, his prayers are in jest; His words come from his mouth, ours from our breast: He prays but faintly and would be denied; We pray with heart and soul and all beside" |
September 9, 2013
Richard II Trailer will be out this week
A HUGE THANKS to @dusthouse for tweeting the entire timeline for the making of the trailer. @Stephen_Murphy was the cinematographer and some of the shoot was in Kendal in the Lake District. It is a concept trailer but no definite word that David is not in it. We'll have to wait and see. The producer from the RSC was Henry Filloux-Bennett (@FillouxPastry). Smoke and Mirrors provided the Special Effects.
 | |
| Our weapon of choice for the Richard II shoot. Many thanks to Panavision UK. Dusty. |
September 7, 2013
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