The life and death of king richard the second, commonly called richard ii, is a history play by william shakespeare believed to have been written in approximately 1595. Screening of the play, starring david tennant as richard ii. It has recently become accepted as part of shakespeares canon of plays. The raigne of king edward the third, commonly shortened to edward iii, is an elizabethan play printed anonymously in 1596, and partly written by william shakespeare. But in richard iii we begin to see shakespeare constructing a psychologically complex central character, flawed yet charismatic, perhaps paving the way for future shakespearean tragic heroes such as hamlet and macbeth. The poster is on sale from the royal shakespeare company online shop priced at just. Shakespeares richard ii and the essex rebellion the. Between watching some of the best, most renowned shakespearean actors bring the play to life, the innovative artistic production and set design, the amazing and captivating camera technique in capturing a live stage production on film, and the bonus track of the plays. Director gregory doran leads the royal shakespeare company in this masterful take on shakespeares incisive study of squandered sovereignty, the first chapter in the epic cycle king and country.
A man whose vanity threatens to divide the great houses of. Review of the royal shakespeare companys richard ii, now. Captured live in stratforduponavon, this adaptation was the first production of artistic director gregory dorans sixyear plan to stage all of shakespeares. Shakespeare, w richard ii royal shakespeare company. Richard, to groom if thou love me, tis time thou wert away. The language used in shakespeares day is slightly different to todays modern english, which is reflected in the text. A precursor to his henriad trilogy, shakespeares richard ii charts richards fall from grace and the rise of the future henry iv, the first king from the house of lancaster. Of course, performing richard ii is more of a commitment than just writing an article about it, especially for actors playing the main roles, who in effect, become a part of history from that moment on, and if we consider we are talking about the royal shakespeare company, the actors become part of theatrical mythology. A fantastic production of richard ii by the royal shakespeare company.
In 20, the company began live screenings of its shakespeare productions called live. But for the concord of my state and time had not an ear to hear my true time broke. With david tennant, elliot barnesworrell, antony byrne, sean chapman. William shakespeare richard ii bluray disc version richard david tennant duke of york oliver ford davies john of gaunt michael pennington bolingbroke nigel lindsay duchess of gloucester jane lapotaire. Richard declares that his horse is an ingrate and a traitor. David tennant starred in richard ii for the royal shakespeare company in stratforduponavon from thursday 10th october 20 until saturday 16th november 20 40 performances before the production transferred to the barbican centre in london from 9th december 20 until saturday 25th january 2014 45 performances. The life and death of king richard the second, commonly called richard ii, is a history play by.
The pack accompanies the rscs broadcast of richard ii, which will took place on 15 november 20. They even performed before the queen on the eve of essexs execution just 17 days after richard ii was staged. Richard ii royal shakespeare company digital theatre. The first part of his history tetralogy, shakespeare s interpretation of the deposed king is brought to life in this richly detailed production from the royal shakespeare company. Richard ii is in residence at the royal shakespeare theatre in stratfordupon avon until 16th november 20. Moreover, the status of his company seems to have been undiminished. Though he speaks in blank verse as everyone else in the play does, he also speaks often in heroic couplet form, rhyming lines of iambic pentameter traditionally utilized in epic and narrative poetry. Richard ii, henry iv and henry v, his writing style had become more poetic and complex. The shakespeare theatre company is a regional theatre company located in washington, united states. Get the full text of shakespeares richard ii, sidebyside with a translation into modern english. The main feature on this dvd title probably has english subtitles. His inadequacy eventually leads to his downfall, but the disgraced monarch undergoes immense psychological trauma before he can accept his fate. It should be noted that the same change, but in a much clumsier way, was previously introduced by gregory doran in the 20 production of richard ii at the royal shakespeare company in stratford.
Richard ii is known for containing some of the most lyrical passages shakespeare has ever written, and these lines are placed in the mouth of king richard. Richard ii just wants to chill out and enjoy the benefits of being a king who almost everyone thinks has been handpicked by god to rule england. Character analysis richard ii as a king, richard is supposedly divine and all powerful. The project began with shakespeares richard ii, starring david tennant, in november. King richard ii by william shakespeare free at loyal books. Richard ii is the first production in a new cycle of shakespeares history plays, directed by gregory, that will be. The royal shakespeare company produced the play with david tennant in the lead role in 20. Richard ii tv movie 20 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. It is the first of four connected playsincluding 1 henry iv. Richard asks how barbary behaved under his new master. King richard the second by william shakespeare free ebook.
Richard and his crew have arrived at harlech castle, on the. The theatre company focuses primarily on plays from the shakespeare canon, but its seasons include works by other classic playwrights such as. Language in richard ii shakespeares henriadand the archives. Rsc artistic director gregory doran directs david tennant in the title role. A man whose vanity threatens to divide the great houses of england and drag his people.
Shakespeares king richard ii act 2, scene 1 with study. And here have i the daintiness of ear to cheque time broke in a disorderd string. Shakespeares king richard ii act 1, scene 4 with study. David tennant plays richard ii as he hands his crown to bollingbroke, played by nigel lindsay. Richards three older brothers were edmund, edward, and george.
David tennant stars as the doomed richard ii in greg dorans criticallyacclaimed royal shakespeare company production, available for the first time online across the world. Shakespeares primary source for richard ii, as for most of his chronicle. In the late 1990s it began to be included in publications of the complete works as coauthored by shakespeare. Written in 1595, richard ii occupies a significant place in the shakespeare canon, marking the transition from the earlier history plays dominated by civil war and stark power to a more nuanced representation of the political conflicts of englands past where character and politics are inextricably intertwined. William shakespeare 15641616 the tragedy of king richard ii, by william shakespeare, is the first of the history series that continues with parts 1 and 2 of king henry iv and with the life of king henry v.
Royal shakespeare company richard ii 20 1120 gb drama, history 3h user score. It was revived in january 2016 for a brief run as part of gregory dorans history cycle, returning to the repertory for very few performances, most of which were part. In this way, the balance and symmetry of the play was disturbed and the entire impact was reduced into some sort of a trivial melodrama. Plot summary representations of kingship and power in shakespeares second tetralogy shakespeares reputation in elizabethan england. Captured live in stratforduponavon, this adaptation was the first production of artistic director gregory dorans sixyear plan to stage all of shakespeare s. Recorded live at the royal shakespeare theatre, stratforduponavon, november 20. Richard ii, king of england, is a selfcentred individual and a poor leader. Unable to properly manage money and an inept politician in the eyes of his courtiers, richards hold on the throne is. Richard iii page 1 the man known as richard iiirichard iii was born on october 2, 1452, the fourth, and youngest surviving son of richard plantagenet, 3rd duke of york, and cecily neville. The first part of his history tetralogy, shakespeares interpretation of the deposed king is brought to life in this richly detailed production from the royal shakespeare company. Sir pierce of exton decides solely on his own to execute the deposed king, and then, as a result, he is banished by king henry. The quarto edition omits the deposition scene in act iv, almost certainly as a result of censorship. A story of power and plotting, richard ii is the first of shakespeare s four plays about the house of lancaster.
Company no 02017289 with its registered office at 26 red lion square london wc1r 4hq. Please subscribe this dailymotion channel and the youtube channel if ok or pleasure better. A man whose vanity threatens to divide the great houses of england and drag his people into a dynastic civil war that will last 100 years. Royal shakespeare company live broadcasts richard ii today. Richard ii royal shakespeare company youtube rscs richard ii lets talk of graves speech duration. Announcing that david tennant would be playing richard ii for the rsc later this year, director gregory doran said the actor who played hamlet for the company in 2008 had the necessary verse. Richard ii act 5, scene 5 translation shakescleare, by. It is based on the life of king richard ii of england ruled 7799 and is the first part of a tetralogy, referred to by some scholars as the henriad, followed by three plays concerning richards successors. David tennant to play richard ii in rscs winter season. Watch david tennants richard ii for free and loads more. One of them is marquee tv, which has a huge amount of topnotch royal shakespeare company stuff including some guy called david. Richard ii will transfer to the barbican theatre, london, from 9 december 20 to 25 january 2014. This production played at the royal shakespeare theatre in stratforduponavon and the barbican in.
The royal shakespeare company rsc is a major british theatre company, based in. Royal shakespeare company, royal shakespeare theatre, stratforduponavon monday, december 2, 20, live from stratforduponavon, folger theatre directed by gregory doran. Download david tennant in every seventh wave listen to every seventh wave on bbc iplayer buy. A story of power and plotting, richard ii is the first of shakespeares four plays about the house of lancaster. David tennant is to star as richard ii as part of the royal shakespeare companys new season, which also includes adaptations of hilary mantels wolf hall and bring up the bodies. In 1601, shakespeare was not questioned, though he was the named author on the title page of the second edition of richard ii, published in 1598.
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