RICHARD II
By William Shakespeare
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In the garden of England, King Richard is the sun. Reaping the land of its wealth, his cronies take the opportunity to fill their fists as they pollute the soil itself. But a reckoning is coming, a revolution that will tear down the rotten boughs of Richard's realm and let in new light.
In summer 2015, Bronzehead Theatre brought Shakespeare's play of power and pride to the gardens of Yorkshire. The tour also included a first ever performance of the play at Pontefract Castle, the place of the king's imprisonment and death. In 2016 we were invited to revive the play for performances in Eschwege, Germany, and York, UK, with a sell-out run. Reviews "The resonance of the sold out first night was so overwhelming that the ensemble from York gained extended applause and standing ovations." Werra Rundschau 2016 "Full of symbolic and clever moments that keep you constantly enthralled, powerful believable performances and a backdrop that is so enchanting, you honestly won’t want to miss this production." One&Other Magazine 2015 "Fantastic, and perfect for a summers evening... a brilliant show which will have you spellbound with humour and gasping at some of its shocking parts even if it is strange to see gardening tools look so threatening!" Nouse 2015 "Burghagen savours the poetic beauty of Shakespeare's verdant language, his Richard caught between 'humanity and futile delusions of royal office'." York Press 2015 "Bronzehead's production of Richard II is undoubtedly a well thought out interpretation, whose risks and alterations have paid off spectacularly, most particularly in its staging and unconventional casting." Unknown Magazine 2015 |
Casts
2015 RICHARD II... Mark Burghagen BOLINGBROKE... Amy Millns HOTSPUR/SALISBURY/BUSHY/DUCHESS of YORK... Geraldine Bell YORK/MOWBRAY... Richard Easterbrook AUMERLE/WILLOUGHBY... Elizabeth Cooke GAUNT/NORTHUMBERLAND/GREEN... Mick Liversidge 2016 RICHARD II... Mark Burghagen BOLINGBROKE... Emily Carding HOTSPUR/SALISBURY/BUSHY/DUCHESS of YORK... Geraldine Bell YORK/MOWBRAY... Richard Easterbrook AUMERLE/WILLOUGHBY... Anna Chessher GAUNT/NORTHUMBERLAND/GREEN... Mick Liversidge DIRECTED by Tom Straszewski MUSIC by Stephanie Hall STAGE MANAGED by Sandie Tanner-Smith |