Reading and Audition Notice

Richard III
By William Shakespeare
Directed by John Buckingham

Reading … Sunday 7th February at 6pm in the foyer
Audition … Sunday 14th February at 6pm in the Clubroom/Studio
Performances … 23rd to 29th May

Whether you regard this famous history play as a piece of Tudor propaganda; an insightful psychological descent into of the mind of a tyrant; or simply Shakespeare’s early take on the serial killer thriller, there is no denying the dramatic power of the story of Richard’s bloody quest for the Crown of England, nor the sheer entertainment value in watching the rise and fall of one of Shakespeare’s most iconic characters.
But there is much more beyond the title role; there are many marvellous supporting roles, both male and female. This will be a large cast ensemble production with some quick change doubling to keep everyone on their toes.
I have edited the play to accommodate an ensemble company of fifteen actors (notionally 10m 5f). In some cases I have deliberately chosen to cast women in male roles and there may be some small flexibility to extend this if necessary, although in a mixed production it may be limited. Incidentally, one of the best productions in recent years was the all female version at Shakespeare’s Globe in 2003, which worked on the principle of original practices (a single sex company but with women instead of men). However, thematically, there is a strong Male v. Female tension in the play which is lost by a single sex approach.
All actors will have spoken parts, and most (with the exception of Richard) will be required to double at least one other character, as well as making up the large numbers of multiples. (ie. various named Nobles, Guards, Attendants, Messengers, Monks, Priests, Executioners, Citizens, Ghosts) However, if anyone is not interested in a spoken role & just wants to “spear-wave”, you’ll be most welcome in addition to the parts listed here.

Cast
Male Actors
Richard, Duke of Gloucester, later King Richard III This is one of greatest theatrical roles ever written, but is also physically and emotionally demanding; not only has Shakespeare given Richard a hunched back and withered arm but also about a third of the text to speak; additionally, there are only a few scenes in which he does not appear. The part requires an experienced and committed performer, ideally male, but I will, if necessary, consider suitable female applicants.
The Duke of Buckingham. An aristocratic, witty and ambitious political fixer, This “medieval Mandelson” helps Richard to the throne but is ultimately betrayed by him. Appears throughout.
Lord Stanley, the Earl of Derby. A covet opponent of Richard, who survives his reign of terror by shrewd footwork. He is step-father to Richard’s final opponent, Richmond. Appears throughout.
King Edward IV. Richard’s elder brother and head of the Yorkist faction. A once handsome warrior and ladies’ man who has “burnt out” with good living. Appears as the major figure in one deathbed scene. Doubled with The Archbishop, an amalgamation of three clerical figures, The Cardinal Archbishop of Canterbury, the Archbishop of York and the Bishop of Ely. He becomes a significant political figure manipulated by Richard and Buckingham, and appears in three scenes.
George, Duke of Clarence. Richard and Edward’s younger brother. Imprisoned at the start of the play and coming to a notoriously sticky end in a vat of Malmsey wine at the end of Act One. In compensation, he speaks some of Shakespeare finest verse in narrating a nightmare and returns as a ghost in Act Five. Doubled with the Lord Mayor of London, who appears in four scenes in Acts 3 and 4.
Sir William Catesby, Richard’s right hand man. In real life both Chancellor of the Exchequer and Speaker of the Commons. Another political fixer. Appears throughout but doubles with the 1st Murderer who kills Clarence in Act 1.
Sir Richard Ratcliff. Richard’s other chief supporter, but slightly more hands-on, supervising executions etc. Appears throughout but doubles with 2nd Murderer who has an interesting fit of conscience over Clarence’s murder.
William, Lord Hastings. Lord Chancellor and a powerful Yorkist noble duped and toppled by Richard. Undermined by a notorious affair with Jane Shore, the late King Edward’s mistress. Executed but re-appears as ghost. Doubled with Sir James Tyrell, the ambitious knight responsible for the murder of the Princes in the Tower.
Anthony, Lord Rivers. Brother to Queen Elizabeth, and leading member of the powerful Lancastrian Woodville family. He is one of Richard’s chief targets for elimination. Executed but returns as a ghost. Doubles with the Duke of Norfolk, Richard’s most powerful ally at the final Battle of Bosworth.
Earl of Richmond, later King Henry VII. The “hero” who gets to play St George to Richard’s Dragon! Has some fine rhetorical battle speeches and the challenge of adding a third dimension to Shakespeare’s squeaky-clean good-guy! Only appears in Act Five, so doubles with Sir Robert Brackenbury, Lieutenant of the Tower of London in five earlier scenes.

Female Actors
Queen Elizabeth. Wife, then widow, to King Edward. An important figure who initially appears weak and shallow but, who in a crucial Act Four scene, confronts Richard and precipitates his downfall. Appears throughout.
Lady Anne Neville. Daughter to Warwick “the Kingmaker” and famously wooed by Richard over the coffin of the Lancastrian King Henry VI. Appears as a Ghost in Act Five. Doubled with Edward, Prince of Wales, one of the two boy Princes in the Tower, who also re-appears as a ghost.
Marquis of Dorset. The son of Queen Elizabeth by a former marriage, he is a proud young man who survives to fight alongside Richmond. Appears throughout. Played as a “trouser-role” to provide challenging doubling with Jane Shore, the notorious mistress to King Edward and Lord Hastings. Shakespeare does not actually include her in the cast, but she is mentioned so often I have chosen to include her as a silent but significant stage presence.
Duchess of York. Mother to Richard and the whole Yorkist Dynasty. Her perspective encompasses the whole bloody history of the Wars of the Roses which has taken her whole family, and culminates in a mother’s curse on Richard, her only surviving child. Appears throughout, but doubles with the Ghost of King Henry VI in Act Five.
Queen Margaret. The dispossessed widow of King Henry VI, and formerly known as the “She-Wolf of France”, the warrior Queen who led the Lancastrian armies into battle. Now with nothing left but the power of her curse, she haunts the play, uniting its women like a Greek Chorus to denounce Richard’s tyranny. She dominates two scenes in Acts One & Five, and will probably appear as a spectral presence in the Act Five battle. Doubled with Prince Richard of York, the younger of the two Princes in the Tower.

I have known and loved this play for years and have a very specific “take” on Richard but, at present, I do not want to say too much about this. When presented as a play on its own and not as part of a history cycle, the focus is inevitably upon the psychology of the main protagonist. However, for those concerned, I intend we will play essentially in period costume (ie. late 15th C.) although there may be some moments of deliberate anachronism. I would anticipate rehearsing fairly intensively from the end of February onward.
I am happy to answer any questions. I have edited the text and will gladly email it (with a more detailed breakdown of intended doubling) to anyone interested. Please contact me.

John Buckingham
johnonbike@blueyonder.co.uk
Tel. 020 8570 5389