0
0
The full cast has today been announced for best-selling historical author Philippa Gregory’s playwright debut Richard, My Richard. This world premiere – a co-production between Shakespeare North Playhouse and Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds – is an innovative new stage play. Inspired by the real life of Richard III; which challenges the reputation of one of history’s most enigmatic characters: a passionate, tender portrait of the man in his time, and the women who determine his fate.
Richard, My Richard, directed by Katie Posner, will launch at Shakespeare North Playhouse in Prescot 8 – 30 March, with a national press night on 12 March, and then play from 11 – 27 April at Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds.
With an explosion of tarmac, a Leicester Car park erupts and Richard III crashes from his lost tomb to meet the character who has ruined his reputation: History – the record keeper who doesn’t always have his mind on the task.
Richard believes he has risen from the grave to heaven with an unstained conscience, and History has the awkward task of telling the Undead King that he is remembered as one of the greatest villains. History admits- he has his own doubts. He is far from a reliable narrator: his perspective is skewed, he has his favorites, some people he completely ignores. History overlooks people and stories.
Funny, poignant, and underpinned by research, Richard’s secrets have not died with him, he rises up to tell us the story, his story, History.
The full cast are Kyle Rowe (The Devil’s Hour – Amazon Prime, Sexy Beast – Paramount+) as ‘Richard’, Tom Kanji (Julius Caesar – Royal Shakespeare Theatre/UK Tour, Private Peaceful – UK Tour) as ‘History’, Tyler Dobbs (A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Shakespeare North Playhouse, Tom’s Midnight Garden – Theatre By The Lake) as ‘George/Buckingham’, Jennifer Matter (Arthur & Merlin: Knights of Camelot – Picture Perfect, Villain – Greenville Media) as ‘Queen’, Olivier Award nominee Tori Burgess (Tony! [The Tony Blair Rock Opera] – UK Tour, Pride & Prejudice* (*Sort Of) – Tron Theatre, West End & UK Tour) as ‘Anne’, Laura Smithers (First Encounters: Twelfth Night – RSC’s The Other Place & UK Tour, Clarion – Arcola Theatre) as ‘Margaret’, Matt Concannon (Lazarus Project– SKY, The Girl on the Train– UK Tour) as ‘Edward/ Thomas Stanley’ and Mary Savage (Who the F—k is Shakespeare – 20 Stories High, as ‘Elizabeth’. [The Tony Blair Rock Opera] – UK Tour, Pride & Prejudice* (*Sort Of) – Tron Theatre, West End & UK Tour) as ‘Anne’, Laura Smithers (First Encounters: Twelfth Night – RSC’s The Other Place & UK Tour, Clarion – Arcola Theatre) as ‘Margaret’, Matt Concannon (Lazarus Project– SKY, The Girl on the Train– UK Tour) as ‘Edward/ Thomas Stanley’ and Mary Savage (Who the F—k is Shakespeare – 20 Stories High) as ‘Elizabeth’.
Dr Philippa Gregory CBE, FRHS, is one of the world’s foremost historical novelists. She wrote her first novel, Wideacre, while completing her PhD in eighteenth-century literature at the University of Edinburgh, and it sold worldwide, heralding a new era for historical fiction.
Philippa Gregory said, “I was inspired to write this play after having the privilege to attend the internment of Richard lll at Leicester. I wanted to write a play about the real Richard and the people – especially the influential women- around him. Then the most important character walked into the play – History – who in an absent-minded moment gave us such a dark picture of the king whose motto was loyalty and whose passion was chivalry.”
Philippa Gregory will lead a post-show discussion at Shakespeare North Playhouse on Tuesday 19 March following the evening performance, Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds on Thursday 18 April following the matinee performance, and Thursday 25 April following the evening performance.
Katie Posner, Director, said, “I am delighted to be directing Philippa Gregory’s debut play. She is a remarkable writer whose perspective is so beautifully emotive, layered and deeply human. This is a play about a well-known Plantagenet king, but it’s also about the youngest son, propelled to be the next in line, when that was not his destiny. Central to his story are the extraordinary women who surround him, ambitious, driven, cleverly and brilliantly guiding the narrative. Throughout Richard, My Richard Philippa presents a conscious counterpoint to Shakespeare’s Tudor propaganda narrative and opens up the story with the biggest question of all. What happens when History has made its decision, and the written accounts are closed!”
This producing partnership between Shakespeare North Playhouse – a replica Shakespearean Playhouse opened in 2022 – and Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds – the last working Regency theatre in England – showcases their shared ambition to stage great contemporary theatre in historic settings.
Laura Collier, Creative Director of Shakespeare North Playhouse said, “We are thrilled to be co-producing the world premiere of Richard, My Richard at Shakespeare North Playhouse. As a masterful and internationally renowned storyteller, Philippa’s debut play expertly highlights the ruthlessness of the Tudor era, illuminating the perspectives of the women of the court, and inviting audiences to question the reliability of history’s narrative.
Set in the iconic backdrop of Shakespeare North’s Cockpit Theatre and co-producing with our friends from Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds, we believe this new play will captivate audiences from both the north and the south. Richard, My Richard is a fresh and fearless play that celebrates the power of theatre and its ability to bring to life lost stories.”
SHAKESPEARE NORTH PLAYHOUSE 8 – 30 MARCH 2024
THEATRE ROYAL BURY ST EDMUNDS 11 – 27 APRIL 2024
