Theatre / Shakespeare
Preview: Richard III, Bristol Old Vic
“What do I fear? Myself?”
After decades of civil war, the nation hangs in the balance. Enter Richard, Duke of Gloucester, to change the course of history.
Richard was not born to be a king, but he’s set his sights on the crown. So begins his campaign of deceit, manipulation and violence – and he’s killing it. Yet behind his ambition lies a murderous desire to be loved.
is needed now More than ever
Following Junkyard in 2017, Bristol Old Vic collaborate once again with Headlong, returning with Tom Mothersdale (The Glass Menagerie) to play Shakespeare’s iconic villain in a revelatory new production directed by Headlong Associate Artist, John Haidar.
Presented by Headlong, Bristol Old Vic and Alexandra Palace with Royal & Derngate, Northampton and Oxford Playhouse.
Here are Tom and John to introduce the production.
Tell us how Tom came into the frame for the role of Richard.
John: I’d seen quite a bit of Tom’s work on stage and had always felt the characters I’d seen him play were mercurial, shape-shifting figures. They had this deep well of longing at their centre. I really wanted to bring that to Richard because I think there’s a well of vulnerability at the centre of the character that I don’t often see portrayed.
Tom: John and I are really interested in the character of Richard. Rather than just showing you his horrendous acts, we want to question why he does them. What has turned him into this (in the words of others) monster?
Tom Mothersdale in rehearsals for Richard III at Bristol Old Vic (and, pictured top, with fellow cast member Leila Mimmack). All pics: Marc Brenner
A monster… what’s your take on this?
John: I don’t see him as a monster. He’s trying to figure out what he is, but he’s been told his whole life that he’s a monster. Maybe he’s decided to fulfill that role. He becomes this emotional extremist in the course of the play. He’s capable of these amazing moments of poetry – but also of incredible violence, because that’s the only outlet he has.
Richard is a complicated character – difficult to place on the moral spectrum from good to evil…?
Tom: Initially I was worried. Shakespeare frightens me. I’m not a massive fan; I don’t like it when it’s stuffy and feels like a museum piece. But then I read John’s version and thought it was pretty cool.
John: The play is a study of one man’s ambition to be king, how that desire for power is refracted through his family and the country as a whole and how, ultimately, it tears the country apart. Though it’s about Richard, his psychosis is refracted through all the other characters, especially in this version.
John Haidar directs the Headlong / Bristol Old Vic / Alexandra Palace co-production
This is an ensemble piece where we are creating a broken family on stage. I’m not sure, even now, how to direct a state-of-the-nation play, but I am increasingly confident about staging a play about a family in crisis. It’s just that this family in crisis is refracted through the whole country.
The audience are particularly important to this production. So much of why the play is special is because of Richard’s relationship with the audience. You are actively involved in the drama as you become complicit with him. I think it is as interactive as a video game.
Cast members Derbhle Crotty and Michael Matus in rehearsals
In a world where young people have so many draws on their time and attention, what does theatre offer?
Tom: It’s live and it’s in the moment. You won’t see that moment happen ever again. It is a difficult art form, because you can’t switch off, you can’t switch the channel. You have to work really hard to make it work, but when it sings, it’s beautiful. It’s electric. You’re ten feet away from the actors and you’re in the room. That’s a feeling you don’t get from anything else.
John: It’s also that communion that you have with other people. I think that is quite rare now. Collective experiences don’t happen that often and it feels important that you’re able to gather together and have this ritual that is in some way reflecting our shared humanity.
Richard III is at Bristol Old Vic from Friday, March 1 to Saturday, March 9, and again from Tue, April 2 to Sat, April 13. For more info, visit bristololdvic.org.uk/whats-on/richard-iii
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