Michael Boyd 2007 production

Michael Boyd's modern-dress production came at the end of the first tetralogy of Shakespeare Histories covering the War of the Roses.

Rehearsal Gallery

Vaughan Take him over the costard with the hilts of thy sword, and then we will chop him in the malmsey-butt in the next room.

Nick Asbury (left, Vaughan) and Keith Dunphy (Lovell) rehearse Act 1 Scene 4.
The company decided to change this line because 'malmsey-butt' isn't used in modern English.
It was changed to 'vat of malmsey wine'.

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Clarence O, I have pass'd a miserable night, So full of ugly sights, of ghastly dreams

Jimmy Tucker (Clarence) rehearses Act 1 Scene 4. He's sitting on the bed which will be used in the finished production.

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These boys shared the roles of Prince Edward and Edward Plantagenet.
The children attended rehearsals one day per week and swapped over every half an hour. The actors are encouraged to move scenes forward rather than copy each other.

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Edward's party

Before starting his first speech, Jonathan Slinger as Richard stands holding a cloth bundle 'baby'. This is an echo from the ending of director Michael Boyd's production Henry VI Part 3which ended with Richard in the same pose.

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The cast move past Richard in a slow-motion party for Edward who is now 12 years old. The audience has become used to seeing fierce battles bursting from the tower - this joyful party was a powerful contrast.

This moment in rehearsal was staged in the theatre but it wasn't seen in the finished production - it was cut in previews.

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Richard Grim-visaged war hath smooth'd his wrinkled front

Jonathan Slinger (Richard) rehearses with Charlie Hamblett (Edward). Edward is presented as a perfect boy, while Richard is an imperfect man.

Each child role is shared between three children because children's working hours are restricted.

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Lovell Thy voice is thunder, but thy looks are humble.

Keith Dunphy (Lovell) approaches Jimmy Tucker (Clarence). The knife used in the finished production was much larger than this one.

The Deputy Stage Manager sits in every rehearsal and makes note about any props needed in rehearsals. They are then sent to the London rehearsal room by the Props team in Stratford-upon-Avon.

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Elizabeth I'll join with black despair against my soul, And to myself become an enemy.

Ann Ogbomo, as Elizabeth, threatens to kill herself in Act 2 Scene 2.

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Lovell If all this will not do, I'll drown you in the vat of malmsey wine.

Keith Dunphy (Lovell), Nick Asbury (Vaughan) and Jimmy Tucker (Clarence) rehearse Act 1 Scene 4. The actors have worked together in the ensemble for a year so trust each other when working on fights. Fight Director Terry King polished up this moment for the finished production.

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Elizabeth Give me no help in lamentation

Ann Ogbomo and Chris McGill (playing Elizabeth and her son Grey) rehearse Act 2 Scene 2.

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Launch Gallery

One ensemble of 44 actors performed all eight English history plays in repertoire at the Complete Works Festival in Stratford-upon-Avon in 2005 to 2008. The shows were performed in our temporary Courtyard theatre.

In 2008, the shows took a six-week residency in London. For this, our Scenic Workshop and Stage teams recreated the Courtyard's thrust stage auditorium at the Roundhouse in Camden.

Review: Richard III
Charles Spencer, Daily Telegraph, January 2007

Review: History Cycle
Anthony Holden, Guardian, May 2008

Director interview

Read the transcript of Professor Jonathan Bate's interview about Richard III for the Director Talk public event on 24 January 2007 in the Courtyard Theatre.

Richard III 2007 Michael Boyd interview

Production Gallery

Richard Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer by this sun of York

Richard (Jonathan Slinger) flicks out the cloth to reveal the 12 year-old Edward aross the stage. Richard then tucks the cloth into his shirt.

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Richard (Jonathan Slinger) stands alone, rocking a cloth bundle 'baby' to the beat of a drum.

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Richard Look, how this ring encompasseth finger/ Even so thy breast encloseth my poor heart

Richard (Jonathan Slinger) gives Anne (Hannah Barrie) a ring to wear.

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Richard Here I lend thee this sharp-pointed sword; / Which if thou please to hide in this true bosom.

Richard (Jonathan Slinger) tries to persuade Anne (Hannah Barrie) to stab him. She does - just a bit - and both end the scene covered in smears of Richard's blood.

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Richard Was ever woman in this humour woo'd? Was ever woman in this humour won?

Richard (Jonathan Slinger) talks to the audience after Anne's exit.

Richard's shaved head and leg brace over (rather than under) his trousers are to show he's not ashamed of his deformities.

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Anne Villain, thou know'st no law of God nor man: / No beast so fierce but knows some touch of pity.

Anne (Hannah Barrie) curses Richard over the body of Henry VI (Chuk Iwuji).

To play the corpse, Chuk took small, shallow breathes so the audience did not see his chest moving,

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Margaret Witness my son, now in the shade of death

Margaret (Katy Stephens) mourns the death of her son. This photo was taken in the dress rehearsal. It was decided that this skeleton looked too gruesome so the bones used in the show were plain rather than bloody.

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Clarence As you would beg, were you in my distress a begging prince what beggar pities not?

Clarence (James Tucker) is chased by Lovell (Keith Dunphy) and Vaughan (Nicholas Asbury) who have been sent to murder him.

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Lovell Take that, and that: if all this will not do, I'll drown you in a vat of malmsey wine!

Lovell (Keith Dunphy) stabs Clarence (James Tucker).

The original line has been changed here for ease of understanding.
(The original line is: 'I'll drown you in the malmsey-butt within.')

Actor James wears a thin plastic bag of blood under his shirt which he bursts by hitting it.

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Vaughan How fain, like Pilate, would I wash my hands of this most grievous guilty murder done!

Vaughan (Nicholas Asbury) tells the audience of his guilt. In the background, Lovell (Keith Dunphy) has stabbed Clarence (James Tucker) and is preparing to move the body.

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King Edward IV Wife, love Lord Hastings, let him kiss your hand; And what you do, do it unfeignedly.

King Edward IV (Forbes Masson, above) forces the reconciliation of Elizabeth (Ann Ogbomo) with Hastings (Tom Hodgkins). To Edward's left, Catesby (Julius D'Silva) holds his oxygen cylinder.

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Lord Grey Now Margaret's curse is fall'n upon our heads, / For standing by when Richard stabb'd her son.

Elizabeth's sons Grey (Chris McGill) and Rivers (Geoffrey Streatfield) lie dead, after they have been killed (in this production, they were shot).

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Richard His lordship knows me well, and loves me well.

Richard (Jonathan Slinger) accuses Hastings (Tom Hodgkins) of treason.
Transparent chairs were used so that the audience, who sit on three sides of the stage, always have a clear view.

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Buckingham Look you get a prayer-book in your hand, and stand betwixt two churchmen

Buckingham has instructed Richard (Jonathan Slinger) to pose in this way. (The clergymen are Nicholas Asbury, left, and Miles Richardson, right.) Richard is wearing a plain shirt to enhance his appearance as an ordinary man.

Buckingham I salute you with this kingly title: Long live Richard, England's royal king!

Buckingham (Richard Cordery) appeals to the audience, as if they are citizens, to accept Richard as their king.

Buckingham Long live King Richard, of that name the third.

The ghost of York (Clive Wood) looks on at his son Richard's (Jonathan Slinger) coronation. All the ghosts of Richard's victims appear on the first balcony and repeat this line.

Richard None are for me that look into me with considering eyes

The coronation of Richard (Jonathan Slinger).
This line has been changed - the original word is 'considerate' but the meaning has changed over time so 'considering' makes more sense for modern audiences.

Richard I say again, give out / That Anne my wife is sick and like to die

Anne (Hannah Barrie) moves as part of a slow-motion party scene for the coronation. She is utterly in despair - she is powerless to stop Richard.

Richard What is done cannot be now amended: / Men shall deal unadvisedly sometimes

Richard (Jonathan Slinger) tries to persuade Elizabeth (Ann Ogbomo) to woo her daughter for him.

Richmond O Thou, whose captain I account myself, Look on my forces with a gracious eye

Before the battle, Richmond (Lex Shrapnel) prays before he goes to bed.

Henry When the lion fawns upon the lamb, the lamb will never cease to follow him.

Henry (Chuk Iwuji) appears to Richmond (Lex Shrapnel) in a dream and gives him a sword.
This line isn't in Richard III - it has been added from Henry VI Part 3.

Behind them, Richard (Jonathan Slinger) is in his own dream. The falling feathers symbolise the smothering of the princes.

Richard I am a villain: yet I lie. I am not.

Richard (Jonathan Slinger) wakes up from his nightmare, confused and upset.

Richard Let not our babbling dreams affright our souls: / Conscience is but a word that cowards use

Richard (Jonathan Slinger) is ready for battle, wearing a flak jacket.

The battle scene is staged in abstract slow-motion. Richard (Jonathan Slinger) is carried by Buckingham (Richard Cordery), as his horse. The ghosts from the whole tetralogy are present.

Richmond Now civil wounds are stopp'd, peace lives again:
That she may long live here, God say amen!

Richmond (Lex Shrapnel) places the crown on his head. The ghost of Henry VI (Chuk Iwuji) looks on.

Launch Gallery

Michael Boyd 2007 production

Rehearsal Gallery

Director interview

Production Gallery

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