Richard III at Shakespeare’s Globe

Another fun outing at Shakespeare’s Globe, Richard III has a great blend of villainy, tension, drama and humour.

The Wars of the Roses are well and truly underway. The Yorkists have triumphed and deposed the Lancastrian King Henry VI. Edward IV now ascends the throne and this is temporary peace in the nation. But how long will that last with his nefarious brother Richard, Duke of Gloucester, plotting to take the crown for himself?

The wicked, unfeeling, psychopathic Richard seems to be playing a game. He dominates the women around him to claim power while taking lives to suppress others. All while seemingly having fun, until it all starts to unravel.

Leading an almost entirely female cast, the Globe’s Olivier award-winning Artistic Director Michelle Terry takes on the titular role (prompting a not unreasonable debate in the theatrical world about disabled actors being denied disabled roles. Terry does not play the role disabled and instead this adaptation chooses to focus on highlighting the deep misogyny surrounding Richard’s character and the play as a whole).

There are a few other notable performances, Helen Schlesinger as Buckingham and Marianne Oldham as Elizabeth. And Joanne Howarth, stepping in temporarily for an injured Haley Carmichael, is an impressive substitute. But this show is all about Michelle Terry. Her playfully twisted Richard completely owns the stage to the point that scenes without her feel a little bland.

It’s a fairly toned-down set by Globe standards, with little in the way of decoration over the regular stage. Perhaps a sign of the times, extravagance being unaffordable these days, or perhaps a conscious effort to focus the play. Either way, it’s nice to see the Globe in its more natural state.

The costumes, on the other hand, have undergone a transformation. Or at least half of one. They’ve chosen a strange aesthetic whereby some of the cast are in entirely traditional Shakespearean garb, some are in entirely modern clothing and most are in some sort of combination of the two. Where this works fantastically is Richard’s rockstar look, black skinny jeans under a dark doublet. But all the other costumes are questionable and it’s unclear what they were going for.

There are certainly darker, more artsy, more “serious” productions of Richard III for those that prefer that sort of thing. But in true Globe style, this is entertaining and accessible Shakespeare for all.

Jim Compton-Hall
Images: Marc Brenner

Richard III is at Shakespeare’s Globe from 21^st May until 3^rd August 2024. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.