VIDEO: RSC Production Diary 13 - The Schools Broadcast Of Richard II

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBh1NTeRt1ca4V_blwy-iNyxIpSYHanJQMlJMQpgZHz91WI7jAg2_15D3shAdNtwdRElSvNCnU5ocTp0IT-UGwXaBRK36uZp-psEXt7YGvrJyZCa3GXF9ZlBq3DXcgcYe9K8ozCstTjEa/s1600/Schools.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBh1NTeRt1ca4V_blwy-iNyxIpSYHanJQMlJMQpgZHz91WI7jAg2_15D3shAdNtwdRElSvNCnU5ocTp0IT-UGwXaBRK36uZp-psEXt7YGvrJyZCa3GXF9ZlBq3DXcgcYe9K8ozCstTjEa/s640/Schools.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The final video production diary for the Royal Shakespeare Company production of Richard II covers the schools broadcast of the play into schools. The play starring David Tennant and directed by Gregory Doran was broadcast into over 400 schools across the UK and seen by over 30,000 students. The broadcast culminated with a live Q&A session with David and Greg.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The clip is introduced by Jayne Welsh, the director of language for learning at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">St Albans</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Academy in Birmingham, who introduces the clip and recommends the experience to more schools in the future.</st1:placetype></st1:place></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><br /></st1:placetype></st1:place></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></st1:placetype></st1:place></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/UcVC6XJq3sE" width="640"></iframe></div><div class="MsoNormal"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></st1:placetype></st1:place></div><div class="MsoNormal"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Find out if <i>Richard II </i>will be broadcast to a cinema near you on the <a href="http://onscreen.rsc.org.uk/cinemas-and-tickets/"><span style="color: blue;">RSC Live From Stratford-upon-Avon webpage</span></a></span></st1:placetype></st1:place></div><div class="MsoNormal"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></st1:place></div><div class="MsoNormal"><st1:place w:st="on"><br /></st1:place></div>

David Tennant Gregory Doran Live From Stratford-upon-Avon Richard II Royal Shakespeare Company VIDEO: RSC Production Diary 13 - The Schools Broadcast Of Richard II

The final video production diary for the Royal Shakespeare Company production of Richard II covers the schools broadcast of the play into schools. The play starring David Tennant and directed by Gregory Doran was broadcast into over 400 schools acros…

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PHOTOS: Hi-Res Images Of David Tennant In Richard II

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiLWJ6t2efYar_XcMdw0bwCoZLGZThKxxUBVPOuK0TVF2U8AVrWL1hrzCZusqK2wBo0_52rlcBF83AuI4Xapc0ucslguxwbCAII_zve4VeS8C_gqK8yrCcAad9FMaLYVo3KUQHUvBM73_/s1600/002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiLWJ6t2efYar_XcMdw0bwCoZLGZThKxxUBVPOuK0TVF2U8AVrWL1hrzCZusqK2wBo0_52rlcBF83AuI4Xapc0ucslguxwbCAII_zve4VeS8C_gqK8yrCcAad9FMaLYVo3KUQHUvBM73_/s640/002.jpg" width="502" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Royal Shakespeare Company's production of <i>Richard II</i> starring David Tennant and directed by Gregory Doran has now closed at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon ahead of transferring to the Barbican Theatre in London from 9th December.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Meanwhile, enjoy a selection of hi-res production images:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCf8Hwp5shbPEKzLff0rxa6K0MaLRiZ9tbo51dclTs2DzFcdWjyq59Nvmy7f8DOucOUj3yJObDFxkljAkyAyYBp240-hKGMJ5hNdTMUJ7ijblLGQogeB0CQgrZMvOYxHYecQvAeULFX6e/s1600/004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCf8Hwp5shbPEKzLff0rxa6K0MaLRiZ9tbo51dclTs2DzFcdWjyq59Nvmy7f8DOucOUj3yJObDFxkljAkyAyYBp240-hKGMJ5hNdTMUJ7ijblLGQogeB0CQgrZMvOYxHYecQvAeULFX6e/s640/004.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNfCUXbs2pIX2fN3aV8u1x8tKdWdUoi9ohcOARKmdWdtMJBGSQO4GA7qTnXCKd3rlVWrsUwvXBjG1voUYMA3r4MFhvPWRDHjHQeiJrbdnMqroDcM-jOlNfMyozFJ_yHegGoUxDKdDeS2CV/s1600/005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNfCUXbs2pIX2fN3aV8u1x8tKdWdUoi9ohcOARKmdWdtMJBGSQO4GA7qTnXCKd3rlVWrsUwvXBjG1voUYMA3r4MFhvPWRDHjHQeiJrbdnMqroDcM-jOlNfMyozFJ_yHegGoUxDKdDeS2CV/s640/005.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPhdo_DJKdiTzBaJ8lIGJI_HdBfI-2CBfCk2UJh-FLIazLGpJ6jFbu8aXI8jxhnW-zG-lutcS565laGaKuj1r1jzSycWGVu0tcsKSkNYFwupGL9BwSABjEma7vMTgltR-Tw6KYm_RzDv-e/s1600/006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPhdo_DJKdiTzBaJ8lIGJI_HdBfI-2CBfCk2UJh-FLIazLGpJ6jFbu8aXI8jxhnW-zG-lutcS565laGaKuj1r1jzSycWGVu0tcsKSkNYFwupGL9BwSABjEma7vMTgltR-Tw6KYm_RzDv-e/s640/006.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCHUNz1LOr4F_b4w1pYYDREKdySfLBNPZOP9SgOEtX-zNTEDzOCDxNudjrtNiOt3sHgozRWtbz3kMEQ6JBVYz11CqS4ShaETVwzIZYEi8-okkonDvnWVevvEkhIfZ4UJCKO5pLxV59rNs/s1600/007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCHUNz1LOr4F_b4w1pYYDREKdySfLBNPZOP9SgOEtX-zNTEDzOCDxNudjrtNiOt3sHgozRWtbz3kMEQ6JBVYz11CqS4ShaETVwzIZYEi8-okkonDvnWVevvEkhIfZ4UJCKO5pLxV59rNs/s640/007.jpg" width="422" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3YeRdiWbVUBSvKmrqIDU6SVhwO7WWy6i7_ZrGUEi3B4uszE709l60kWbiNwMg01tkkMhb8W55n4Ahb5hODh1atfRFJpwdMI-_9V36yWwmR-PQfQNqiZcbYs2P7pKk9Xg8i-50pFXqDlv/s1600/008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3YeRdiWbVUBSvKmrqIDU6SVhwO7WWy6i7_ZrGUEi3B4uszE709l60kWbiNwMg01tkkMhb8W55n4Ahb5hODh1atfRFJpwdMI-_9V36yWwmR-PQfQNqiZcbYs2P7pKk9Xg8i-50pFXqDlv/s640/008.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3t8jJ4dh47UoWQ95yi2gqePQ_vetO8FZo9NZrB28WkUOi0ngs2-xwcf0EbV-1BFmaaFmJTzeJXaYa7kSqQCTzpE69UJdsciBaSy2BmwBgxw-xwgkOZBFLauyklCxRZoFSxGT13WOvEQI/s1600/001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3t8jJ4dh47UoWQ95yi2gqePQ_vetO8FZo9NZrB28WkUOi0ngs2-xwcf0EbV-1BFmaaFmJTzeJXaYa7kSqQCTzpE69UJdsciBaSy2BmwBgxw-xwgkOZBFLauyklCxRZoFSxGT13WOvEQI/s640/001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.david-tennant.com/2009/id194.html">Read more about Richard II here</a></span><br /><br /><br />

David Tennant Gregory Doran Richard II Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre PHOTOS: Hi-Res Images Of David Tennant In Richard II

 The Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Richard II starring David Tennant and directed by Gregory Doran has now closed at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon ahead of transferring to the Barbican Theatre in London from 9th Decem…

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Richard II: The Final Day In Stratford-Upon-Avon

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimDAROBK5FsZr8hGBP1mOA_kWH9DnGx9KLgIth0RxPoXwrKkdioW_ud_BPHePYrMy-UrQKEcy4KzrK-dWV3GNNOBm-kmsNGtky7K9kCu80P4tV_I6LE61HUgMCrxoMIp9zhBtFOZrhi_Ne/s1600/Rich10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimDAROBK5FsZr8hGBP1mOA_kWH9DnGx9KLgIth0RxPoXwrKkdioW_ud_BPHePYrMy-UrQKEcy4KzrK-dWV3GNNOBm-kmsNGtky7K9kCu80P4tV_I6LE61HUgMCrxoMIp9zhBtFOZrhi_Ne/s640/Rich10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yesterday saw the final day of the Stratford-upon-Avon run of the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of <i>Richard II. </i>The play starring David Tennant and directed by Gregory Doran had been in residence at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre from the 10th October and the period had included the RSC's first ever live broadcast of one of their productions into cinemas.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The excitement for the closing two shows was quite palpable, but at the same time there was a little sadness that it was all drawing to a close so soon. It hasn't been a very long run and the transfer to London has meant a three week break while the complex stage design is relocated to the Barbican in London. The Warwickshire town was obviously much busier from much earlier on in the day and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre shop and foyer was rammed as friends met up with friends and people scrambled to buy from the range of Richard II merchandise. Crowds were building up outside too. An acquaintance who took a peek during the matinee interval informed us that the stage door barrier was already three deep. Fans who had already viewed the production assured first-timers how much they would love the show. Seasoned RSC and theatre supporters rubbed shoulders with people for whom this was their first foray into live Shakespeare. It has been a production that has drawn its audience widely.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This has been a critically acclaimed run, with many praising the simple yet effective set, the use of the theatre's depth, the live singers and musicians and, without a doubt, the consistently high quality performances by the whole company. The younger members of the cast have left us with a host of new names and faces to follow with the hope that they too will go on to great things. For David Tennant it has been a triumphant return to Stratford. The bold decision to wear extensions to realise Richard's ethereal, androgynous appearance may have got the gossip columns chattering but it certainly focused attention on something very special that was happening on that stage. The success of the live broadcast across the UK underscored that to the tune of the £1 million that was generated at the sold out cinema box offices. The production hit the right notes in so many ways and Gregory Doran has hit the ground running in his first full season as RSC Artistic Director.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The two final shows ran through smoothly and following both performances, David Tennant made an earnest appeal for donations to the Disasters Emergency Committee to support relief work following the horrific events in the Phillippines. Cast members manned buckets at the exit doors. The final curtain call was a mixture of elation and emotion. The audience sprang to their feet as the final spotlight faded, and the beaming, relieved, tired and happy faces of the whole cast, led by David Tennant said it all. A large bunch of apricot and lemon coloured roses landed with a thud at David's feet; he scooped them up and without hesitation presented them to Jane Lapotaire, who has made a triumphant return to the RSC following a lengthy serious illness. David thanked the audience and expressed how delighted they had all been with the successful run...and then they were gone, with just the final flourish by the trumpeteers to see the audience on their way.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A member of the theatre staff informed us that work would start the next day to strip out the <i>Richard II</i> set and to start to install the complex mechanics for <i>Wendy And Peter Pan</i>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In three weeks time, the company will take to the stage of the Barbican in London. Until then we will simply have to be bereft of Richard, Bolingbroke, Old Gaunt, York, Northumberland, Harry Percy, Aumerle <i>et al. </i>In the meantime there are <a href="http://onscreen.rsc.org.uk/cinemas-and-tickets/">encore screenings</a> of the live broadcast to fill the void.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Richard II </i>transfers to the Barbican in <st1:city w:st="on">London</st1:city> from 9th December till 25th January 2014. The run is currently sold out, but a limited number of tickets will be made available on the day of each performance directly from the Barbican Box Office. Otherwise phone 020 7638 8891 for returns.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>

David Tennant Gregory Doran Richard II Royal Shakespeare Company Shakespeare Theatre Richard II: The Final Day In Stratford-Upon-Avon

Yesterday saw the final day of the Stratford-upon-Avon run of the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Richard II. The play starring David Tennant and directed by Gregory Doran had been in residence at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre from the 10th…

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Listen To Gregory Doran's Richard II Director's Talk

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTrq95dTUz58x8uT3eCuM5jlBOuoNkxx5xx8H_-XSiXNcVEkNYKPczGWHpnkcYr7Tk4x_IQE0bUj5ECOhz0UZCFG-PTKcKCwwgZ1NB8YlDbV7eBIR9wn3Vycbdo8KUJlWnXbDwUpKrEoFX/s1600/David-Greg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTrq95dTUz58x8uT3eCuM5jlBOuoNkxx5xx8H_-XSiXNcVEkNYKPczGWHpnkcYr7Tk4x_IQE0bUj5ECOhz0UZCFG-PTKcKCwwgZ1NB8YlDbV7eBIR9wn3Vycbdo8KUJlWnXbDwUpKrEoFX/s640/David-Greg.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On October 16th, Gregory Doran, the director of the Royal Shakespeare Company's staging of <i>Richard II</i> gave a talk on the play. An audio recording of the talk has now been uploaded to the RSC's Soundcloud.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Greg Doran spoke about his working relationship with the production's star David Tennant, and what the actor brings to the production.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I knew what a skilled technician he was," he said. "I’d seen him in this [the RSC] company playing both Touchstone in As You Like It and Romeo, and I thought if you can play Touchstone and get the laughs and play Romeo you’ve got a Hamlet in there somewhere. But partly…it’s impossible for David to be anything other than contemporary, and yet he has astonishing facility with the language. He can breathe it as if it’s not 400 years old, and I think he makes the plays shiver into life. He has great versatility. What I loved about his Hamlet was in a way the key line was for us when Hamlet says, “I have of late, and yet I know not why, lost all my mirth,” which must mean that at one point Hamlet had a sense of humour and wasn’t always congenitally the gloomy Dane. That’s a great skill to be able to find the variety within the line.”</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Greg also confirms that the recorded version of the play will be released on DVD.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Listen to the full recording of the talk here:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/120127003" width="100%"></iframe></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">David Tennant stars in the title role in the production finished its run last night at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. It transfers to the Barbican in London from 9th December till 25th January 2014. The run is currently sold out, but a limited number of tickets will be made available on the day of each performance directly from the Barbican Box Office. Otherwise phone 020 7638 8891 for returns.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>

David Tennant Gregory Doran Richard II Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre Listen To Gregory Doran's Richard II Director's Talk

On October 16th, Gregory Doran, the director of the Royal Shakespeare Company's staging of Richard II gave a talk on the play. An audio recording of the talk has now been uploaded to the RSC's Soundcloud.Greg Doran spoke about his working relationshi…

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PHOTOS: Richard II School Q&A

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTl9UcYolBfk6p3HXux6fFs_C4dJYfFL4ZOjN3f31mtr7Gsi-wgc_l5W14mPtrBjP7fCEh_fCdklyXhT_gQUdpddtaEg-GTEmhZaBjE_I3Z9Vajpgu07SKtgJVWpvo3eNfhp2k0VJ9rc/s1600/rsc1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTl9UcYolBfk6p3HXux6fFs_C4dJYfFL4ZOjN3f31mtr7Gsi-wgc_l5W14mPtrBjP7fCEh_fCdklyXhT_gQUdpddtaEg-GTEmhZaBjE_I3Z9Vajpgu07SKtgJVWpvo3eNfhp2k0VJ9rc/s640/rsc1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Earlier to<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">day the Royal Shakespeare Company became the first UK theatre to broadcast Shakespeare directly into schools, as </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Richard II</em><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> with David Tennant in the title role wa</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">s streamed free of charge into classrooms up and down the country.</span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><div style="background-color: #fafafa; border: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">During the 20 minute interval the students were invited to submit their questions about the production to David and Gregory who were based in a TV studio at Ravensbourne College with TV presenter Konnie Huq. The questions were displayed on a touchscreen and David and Gregory selected the questions they wanted to answer as part of the live Q&A.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: #fafafa; border: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Richard II closes in Stratford-upon-Avon tomorrow evening before transferring to the Barbican on 9th December 2013.</span></div><div style="background-color: #fafafa; border: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Photos with thanks to The RSC Press Office</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6BzdFT4hN6rdqcx89-e9q_hDaPoPNLENOpKYA-ITz6X8ZomkcQvKC67FxJqx9_DlvggRTEcRBXjuVer5AgYE8lyF3WIJAZxXlLsP5HOvWVWB0PC6m3i08BKqIvepTcrj4EhJKuXjZ0us/s1600/rsc2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6BzdFT4hN6rdqcx89-e9q_hDaPoPNLENOpKYA-ITz6X8ZomkcQvKC67FxJqx9_DlvggRTEcRBXjuVer5AgYE8lyF3WIJAZxXlLsP5HOvWVWB0PC6m3i08BKqIvepTcrj4EhJKuXjZ0us/s640/rsc2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="background-color: #fafafa; border: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: #fafafa; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>

David Tennant Gregory Doran Richard II Theatre PHOTOS: Richard II School Q&A

Earlier today the Royal Shakespeare Company became the first UK theatre to broadcast Shakespeare directly into schools, as Richard II with David Tennant in the title role was streamed free of charge into classrooms up and down the country.During the …

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VIDEO: David Tennant Talks About The Richard II Live Cinema Screening

<div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6tBFsd5ad-Mvpp5HGccLEx0XFc47xw1ZVVmRKKM5hOXz1q2yJILBX5BieIXSQsK8hAkJGUIf8_P-KjUIXkIXRR7FANddWGwH3_6ZgIJdm_sFK8j3Sz92aVbUO2iqPqrOn3gMXaxqjojGE/s1600/PD11-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6tBFsd5ad-Mvpp5HGccLEx0XFc47xw1ZVVmRKKM5hOXz1q2yJILBX5BieIXSQsK8hAkJGUIf8_P-KjUIXkIXRR7FANddWGwH3_6ZgIJdm_sFK8j3Sz92aVbUO2iqPqrOn3gMXaxqjojGE/s640/PD11-04.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“No pressure then…fine!”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the new video production diary from the Royal Shakespeare Company, David Tennant talks about his excitement in the lead-up to his – and the RSC’s - first ever live theatre performance to audiences in cinemas across the world.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“It’s very exciting to think that this is going to be beamed around the world” he says. “It’s going to be like experiencing, I hope, the live event. We won’t be changing our acting, we’ll still be acting for the back row of the stalls…it’ll feel hopefully like you’re in the theatre live with us.”</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/xxFi0rDcHJI" width="640"></iframe></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The live broadcast to cinemas across the <st1:place w:st="on">UK</st1:place> and around the world begins at 7.30pm GMT on Wednesday 13^th November, with subsequent screenings taking place in various countries until early 2014.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://onscreen.rsc.org.uk/cinemas-and-tickets/"><span style="color: blue;">Find out more about the cinema broadcasts here</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The recording will also be streamed live into 1000 secondary schools across the <st1:place w:st="on">UK</st1:place>, with pupils having the chance to take part in a live Q&A with David and director Gregory Doran following the broadcast.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Richard II</i> starring David Tennant, Nigel Lindsay, Michael Pennington and Oliver Ford Davies plays at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon until 16th November. It then transfers to the Barbican in London from 9th December to the 25th January 2014.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://news.david-tennant.com/2009/id194.html"><span style="color: blue;">Read more about the production here</span></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>

David Tennant Gregory Doran Live From Stratford-upon-Avon Richard II Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre VIDEO: David Tennant Talks About The Richard II Live Cinema Screening

“No pressure then…fine!”In the new video production diary from the Royal Shakespeare Company, David Tennant talks about his excitement in the lead-up to his – and the RSC’s - first ever live theatre performance to audiences in cinemas across the worl…

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Buy Now: RSC Richard II Theatre Programme Now Available For iPad

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTS7eoaCcOpxkyYrlCoFkJGv6-i0Ivj0npSun9_co_HIJG7rqItcot4M974f4HFM_gzSfX5Q0CC9wCxdKN1Z0bHwY2OduD9ZEH2NsDrLHlUWHxey-Uv5AWCciDZSntKH2uGP29I-ziqmC1/s1600/iPad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="413" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTS7eoaCcOpxkyYrlCoFkJGv6-i0Ivj0npSun9_co_HIJG7rqItcot4M974f4HFM_gzSfX5Q0CC9wCxdKN1Z0bHwY2OduD9ZEH2NsDrLHlUWHxey-Uv5AWCciDZSntKH2uGP29I-ziqmC1/s640/iPad.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Royal Shakespeare Company have made the <i>Richard II </i>programme available as an iPad app. Including lots of enhanced content and interactive features, the app is ready to buy now from the Apple store at just £1.99. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Description<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p>The Royal Shakespeare Company’s exclusive theatre programme for iPad. Directed by Gregory Doran and starring David Tennant in the title role, this acclaimed production of Richard II was hailed as a ‘lucid, moving production packed with tremendous performances’ and ‘another palpable hit for the Tennant/Doran collaboration’. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />Richard II is the RSC’s first production to be filmed live for cinema broadcast and screened for free in classrooms around the <st1:place w:st="on">UK</st1:place>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />This iPad Richard II programme offers: </span></div><ul><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Enhanced video content featuring behind-the-scenes footage of how a production moves from script to stage</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The official cinema trailer </span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Video interviews with Director Gregory Doran and David Tennant</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rehearsal and production images of the show</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Articles by leading academics in their field, as well as a written note by historian and presenter Helen Castor</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Information and biographies of the cast and creative team of Richard II</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Information on the RSC and interactive links to upcoming productions and ticket booking</span></li></ul><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/rsc-richard2-theatre-programme/id731430797?mt=8"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Click here for more information and to download</b></span></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The app is also available internationally - other countries should check their local version of the Apple store.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.david-tennant.com/2009/id194.html"><span style="color: blue;">Find out more about Richard II on our website</span></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />

David Tennant Gregory Doran iTunes Richard II Royal Shakespeare Company Buy Now: RSC Richard II Theatre Programme Now Available For iPad

The Royal Shakespeare Company have made the Richard II programme available as an iPad app. Including lots of enhanced content and interactive features, the app is ready to buy now from the Apple store at just £1.99. Description The Royal Shakespeare …

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New RIchard II Blog From Illuminations: ‘Lords, Be Ready All’

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCoYhrDnpJJKqn7qq3H3QcOau-Q4oGRg-TKZlyyUf0PTo1F0sDtxqD7NFSj9AdC1yEMpMrwaBFgnyxNY1zignGC7TZE4OlluTXFStG_2MJjuVVE8xNTuN-gXlX9LRljcJI54feTsW38QwI/s1600/RII-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCoYhrDnpJJKqn7qq3H3QcOau-Q4oGRg-TKZlyyUf0PTo1F0sDtxqD7NFSj9AdC1yEMpMrwaBFgnyxNY1zignGC7TZE4OlluTXFStG_2MJjuVVE8xNTuN-gXlX9LRljcJI54feTsW38QwI/s1600/RII-02.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The latest blog from John Wyver of Illuminations goes into detail about the ongoing preparations to broadcast the Royal Shakespeare Company staging of <i>Richard II</i> into cinemas across the UK and worldwide from Wednesday 13th November. John will be producing the film, the first ever broadcast by the RSC live from Stratford-upon-Avon.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today, cameras, lighting and sound equipment has arrived at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre ahead of the full camera rehearsal tomorrow afternoon.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/2013/11/lords-be-ready-all/"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Read John's blog here</b></span></a> for a full breakdown of the painstaking preparations that will ensure that the complex live broadcast runs according to plan on the night of the 13th.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Richard II</i> is directed by Gregory Doran and stars David Tennant and Nigel Lindsey. The production is in residence at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre until the 16th November. It then transfers to the Barbican in London from 9th December till 25th January.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.david-tennant.com/2009/id194.html"><span style="color: blue;">Read more about Richard II on our website</span></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://onscreen.rsc.org.uk/richard-ii/default.aspx"><span style="color: blue;">Find out more about the live broadcast of the play here</span></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />

David Tennant Gregory Doran Illuminations Live From Stratford-upon-Avon Richard II Royal Shakespeare Company New RIchard II Blog From Illuminations: ‘Lords, Be Ready All’

The latest blog from John Wyver of Illuminations goes into detail about the ongoing preparations to broadcast the Royal Shakespeare Company staging of Richard II into cinemas across the UK and worldwide from Wednesday 13th November. John will be prod…

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Richard II Video Production Diary 10: Stephen Brimson Lewis On Designing The Play

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfX8uovCqOQo7JvC9nRJglJ0ooI2OSZSZp-EmpsDxqjX3EQsnzX8GdCeMFoYx8wZaXZWP4zYGtZnepQ6Nd0OqK3JxgLEEbObFu-jtTpxowNBCTzNpmxOzhBWdo34T-j_XVy9OTMbNTQVn/s1600/RSC06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfX8uovCqOQo7JvC9nRJglJ0ooI2OSZSZp-EmpsDxqjX3EQsnzX8GdCeMFoYx8wZaXZWP4zYGtZnepQ6Nd0OqK3JxgLEEbObFu-jtTpxowNBCTzNpmxOzhBWdo34T-j_XVy9OTMbNTQVn/s1600/RSC06.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Royal Shakespeare Company have posted the tenth in their series of video diaries documenting the process behind bringing their production of <i>Richard II </i>to the stage.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This week, designer Stephen Brimson Lewis talks how he came to develop the striking, minimalist set.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"The overall concept for the production really grew out of a response to the space as much as anything else," he explains. "It's quite a unique space in that the actors are thrust right into the centre of the building and right amongst the audience." Along with Greg Doran's wish that the height of the building was also exploited, the designer incorporates projections, lighting and mechanics to create the world of <i>Richard II </i> in which the company works.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Watch the video here:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/RQ2DrEu69I8" width="640"></iframe></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Richard II</i> starring David Tennant and directed by Gregory Doran is in residence at The Royal Shakespeare Theatre in <st1:place w:st="on">Stratford-upon-Avon</st1:place> until 16th November 2013. It transfers to the Barbican in <st1:city w:st="on">London</st1:city> on 9th December where it plays until 25th January 2014.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Both runs are currently sold out but returns may be available: call the RSC on 0844 800 1110 to check availability</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The production will be filmed on November 13th and broadcast into cinemas across the <st1:country-region w:st="on">UK</st1:country-region> and worldwide. <a href="http://onscreen.rsc.org.uk/richard-ii/default.aspx">More information can be found on the RSC Onscreen site</a>. The recorded play will also be released on DVD.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.david-tennant.com/2009/id194.html"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Read more about the RSC's Richard II on our website</span></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>

David Tennant Gregory Doran Richard II Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre Richard II Video Production Diary 10: Stephen Brimson Lewis On Designing The Play

The Royal Shakespeare Company have posted the tenth in their series of video diaries documenting the process behind bringing their production of Richard II to the stage.This week, designer Stephen Brimson Lewis talks how he came to develop the striki…

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The Sunday Times Review Of Richard II: David Tennant As Medieval Pop Star

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivkQlWTpWStfO-TZMdhiP3O_JBjI_vRrGj94X0JI7z-d8B3mHD0aUsTfwXMCLeee3BecKAnMdfX77iZgqnkA5EMiGyJdEWI9I9hA8oOzEE4poTHASKaAB80AUDMMiRJEA7o_bEe-x9V31p/s1600/RII-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivkQlWTpWStfO-TZMdhiP3O_JBjI_vRrGj94X0JI7z-d8B3mHD0aUsTfwXMCLeee3BecKAnMdfX77iZgqnkA5EMiGyJdEWI9I9hA8oOzEE4poTHASKaAB80AUDMMiRJEA7o_bEe-x9V31p/s640/RII-04.jpg" width="543" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Sunday Times have reviewed the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of <i>Richard II</i> starring David Tennant. Read what they have to say here: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Richard II, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First, the hair. Richard II may be a gem of a history play, a triumph of poetry, a very English tragedy, but David Tennant’s king stuns us, first and foremost, with a wonderful brown weave cascading down his back. And if it’s just hair, it’s apt: luxuriant, self-indulgent, slightly absurd (to the modern eye, anyway), it’s a nice encapsulation of Richard of Bordeaux’s reign. As he quaffs wine and scoffs sweeties, depleting his nation’s coffers because God says he can, he’s a medieval pop star, a divine brat manipulating the system. It’s <st1:city w:st="on">Florence</st1:city>and a particularly mean Machine.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Does Tennant ever blink? In the first half, it seems not: his Richard is a wide-eyed despot, softly maniacal but oh so full of charm. Most of his lines come as bitchy asides, a welcome relief from the doom and gloom of his depressed court: when he shrugs off a "So much for that", moving on from Gaunt's death two seconds earlier, the audience give a shocked cackle. A mixture of nonchalance and glib spite, he fairly has us eating out of the palm of his hand. So many of his lines elicited laughs, it almost seemed silly; surely we're not meant to chuckle so much? But that's the Tennant gift. And of course, when Richard starts his spiral downwards, his natural sympathy stands him in good stead. Even as he relinquishes power to Bolingbroke in the deposition scene (masterfully done), he navigates the comic and the tragic with ease. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nigel Lindsay is a perfect foil for him as Bolingbroke. Lindsay can offer so many great variations on the pub landlord - and that's a compliment. From weary seen-it-allness to doughty bulldog aggression, he seems to offer exactly what Richard lacks. He looks rather a good sort until he is swinging two bags of decapitated heads (Shakespeare never fails to emphasise what a grey mucky scramble the struggle for power is.) Even better casting is Sean Chapman as a wolfish Northumberland; when he stands at the castle gates, waiting for Richard to surrender, he positively licks his lips. Then there are the RSC stalwarts: when Michael Pennington and Oliver Ford Davies first proceed on together, as the uncles Gaunt and York respectively, you almost roll your eyes. But Pennington ends up giving a great, sweaty, incandescent turn with Gaunt's deathbed scene; while Ford Davies is a thoroughly lovable York,a much needed injection of warmth, as is Marty Cruickshank as his Duchess.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Greg Doran's production is solid and elegant; likewise Stephen Brimson Lewis's set isn't showy or ambitious, mostly a series of projections there to serve the actors. Yet Doran develops one special twist, a rapport between two characters it's best not to give away. His reading gives a kick to what is, ultimately, a sad and sorry play: a charting of the endemic rot in England, a gorgeous verse prelude to 100 years of bloody civil war. Tennant's Richard, for all his godly rights, is just the flavour of the month, good to be chucked when we've had enough. Hair today, gone tomorrow. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Richard II</i> is in residence at The Royal Shakespeare Theatre in <st1:place w:st="on">Stratford-upon-Avon</st1:place> until 16th November 2013. It transfers to the Barbican in <st1:place w:st="on">London</st1:place> on 9th December where it plays until 25th January 2014. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p>Both runs are currently sold out but returns may be available: call the RSC on 0844 800 1110 to check availability</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The production will be filmed on November 13th and broadcast into cinemas across the <st1:country-region w:st="on">UK</st1:country-region> and worldwide. <a href="http://onscreen.rsc.org.uk/richard-ii/default.aspx"><span style="color: blue;">More information can be found on the RSC Onscreen site</span></a>. The recorded play will also be released on DVD.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.david-tennant.com/2009/id194.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Read more about the RSC's Richard II on our website</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With thanks to Zoe Brown</span></o:p><br /><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/culture/arts/theatre/article1330742.ece">Source</a></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p><o:p><br /></o:p><o:p><br /></o:p></div>

David Tennant Gregory Doran Nigel Lindsay Richard II Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre The Sunday Times Review Of Richard II: David Tennant As Medieval Pop Star

The Sunday Times have reviewed the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Richard II starring David Tennant. Read what they have to say here: Richard II, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-AvonFirst, the hair. Richard II may be a gem of a h…

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RSC Whispers From The Wings Blog: 'Time To Pinch Myself'

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUTWVRICVdoyCR1WUqqQNL9NcjYiePO0C9RJFhJykQwp5MUhlVZCoqgD3WRor3cnQ1WXLlOeKUoqkLUhYbkn0Bj7Wdv5vzVFjBUtjFNW2KgCJGLbPZ-8AKZQBpBQDT8FB0NEZ9mClqJTcf/s1600/Rich05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUTWVRICVdoyCR1WUqqQNL9NcjYiePO0C9RJFhJykQwp5MUhlVZCoqgD3WRor3cnQ1WXLlOeKUoqkLUhYbkn0Bj7Wdv5vzVFjBUtjFNW2KgCJGLbPZ-8AKZQBpBQDT8FB0NEZ9mClqJTcf/s640/Rich05.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Elliot Barnes-Worrell, who plays the groom in the Royal Shakespeare Company production of <i>Richard II,</i> has been blogging about the experiences of his debut season with the company. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Richard II </i>starring David Tennant and directed by Gregory Doran opened last week to much critical acclaim. For Elliot the whole experience has felt somewhat unreal. He says:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the last week I have packed up the young boy from south east <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">London</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I moved him to a little flat in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Stratford</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I 'teched' our show from 10am to 10pm.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I walked out on to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre stage in front of more than 1000 people, making my debut with the RSC.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I danced a hole in my socks at the press night party, and high fived Oliver Ford Davies backstage….<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I would have pinched myself to make sure every awesome thing I had experienced this week was indeed real, but I assure you there has been little time for pinching.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.rsc.org.uk/explore/blogs/whispers-from-the-wings/time-to-pinch-myself/"><span style="color: blue;">Read Elliot's full blog post here</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Richard II will play in residence in Stratford-upon-Avon until 16th November 2013 when it will then transfer to The Barbican in <st1:city w:st="on">London</st1:city>.<br /><br />The run is completely sold out, but there may be returns. You can check for returns by phoning the RSC Ticket Hotline on 0844 800 1110.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The play will be streamed live into cinemas in the <st1:country-region w:st="on">UK</st1:country-region> on the 13th November and subsequently into cinemas worldwide</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://onscreen.rsc.org.uk/richard-ii/default.aspx"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Find out more about the live broadcast of Richard II here</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://news.david-tennant.com/2009/id194.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Read more about Richard II on our website</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div>

David Tennant Elliot Barnes-Worrell Gregory Doran Richard II Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre RSC Whispers From The Wings Blog: 'Time To Pinch Myself'

Elliot Barnes-Worrell, who plays the groom in the Royal Shakespeare Company production of Richard II, has been blogging about the experiences of his debut season with the company. Richard II starring David Tennant and directed by Gregory Doran opened…

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New Illuminations Richard II Blog Post: 'Music Do I Hear?'

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZOX7_NTBe6LpXkLXP-m1ZF5RNLI_iVEBDLWQGYXamFKmOfYKWmt8GIxItv2L6g1BaYazJN7gnzZp-aLTF6PdPNVgoP28pydjCmCcojPVZlL9aAbRvtAUm-5MM3s3HZvVEb8I_BYtPhK_/s1600/Rich10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZOX7_NTBe6LpXkLXP-m1ZF5RNLI_iVEBDLWQGYXamFKmOfYKWmt8GIxItv2L6g1BaYazJN7gnzZp-aLTF6PdPNVgoP28pydjCmCcojPVZlL9aAbRvtAUm-5MM3s3HZvVEb8I_BYtPhK_/s640/Rich10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">John Wyver of Illuminations has posted a new blog on the preparations for the live broadcast into cinemas of the new Royal Shakespeare Company production of <i>Richard II</i>. The play, directed by Gregory Doran and starring David Tennant, opened on Thursday to unanimous critical acclaim.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">John and his team will be taking charge of producing the live broadcast in three weeks time and are making their final plans . The 2 hour 45 minute production will be broadcast live into UK cinemas on Wednesday 13th November and subsequently streamed into UK schools and into cinemas worldwide. The ambitious project is the first in a series of RSC Live From Stratford-upon-Avon screenings.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/2013/10/music-do-i-hear/"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Read John Wyver's blog here</b></span></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://onscreen.rsc.org.uk/richard-ii/default.aspx"><span style="color: blue;">Find out more about the live broadcast of Richard II here</span></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Richard II will play in residence in Stratford-upon-Avon until 16th November 2013 when it will then transfer to The Barbican in <st1:city w:st="on">London</st1:city>.<br /><br />The run is completely sold out, but there may be returns. You can check for returns by phoning the RSC Ticket Hotline on 0844 800 1110.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://news.david-tennant.com/2009/id194.html"><span style="color: blue;">Read more about Richard II on our website</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

David Tennant Gregory Doran Illuminations Richard II Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre New Illuminations Richard II Blog Post: 'Music Do I Hear?'

John Wyver of Illuminations has posted a new blog on the preparations for the live broadcast into cinemas of the new Royal Shakespeare Company production of Richard II. The play, directed by Gregory Doran and starring David Tennant, opened on Thursda…

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Saturday Review Discuss Richard II Starring David Tennant

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6NorJmzM32Xa8k6-yMQsV5Akkkq8ti0uHSIdOTWxI8p9UPV8EVELD6k8pIOIKlZ-IrUORBBM833IWA-aPJsxSGnOKCAI1zHLx-4Ic-hdPAxgUzBmJlzR9TORq6iBTqAv52gbnumX97EYc/s1600/rich4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6NorJmzM32Xa8k6-yMQsV5Akkkq8ti0uHSIdOTWxI8p9UPV8EVELD6k8pIOIKlZ-IrUORBBM833IWA-aPJsxSGnOKCAI1zHLx-4Ic-hdPAxgUzBmJlzR9TORq6iBTqAv52gbnumX97EYc/s1600/rich4.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The new Royal Shakespeare Company staging of <i>Richard II</i> was one of the topics under discussion on BBC Radio 4's <i>Saturday Review</i> programme yesterday. The production, which stars David Tennant and is directed by Gregory Doran, opened last Thursday to great acclaim throughout the press.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Richard II </i>was discussed by Tom Sutcliffe and his guests Sarfraz Manzoor, Natalie Haynes and Peter Kemp.You can listen to their conversation via BBC iPlayer. The review starts at around 3 minutes into the show.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03ddnfk/Saturday_Review_David_Tennant_as_Richard_II_The_Goldfinch_Enough_Said"><b><span style="color: blue;">Saturday Review: David Tennant as Richard II</span></b></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Richard II stars David Tennant with Nigel Lindsay, Michael Pennington, Oliver Ford Davies, Jane Lapotaire and Emma Hamilton. The production is in residence at The Royal Shakespeare Theatre in <st1:place w:st="on">Stratford-upon-Avon</st1:place> until 16th November 2013. It transfers to the Barbican in <st1:city w:st="on">London</st1:city> on 9th December where it plays until 25th January 2014. Both runs are currently sold out but returns may be available: call the RSC on 0844 800 1110 to check availability</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The production will be filmed on November 13th and broadcast into cinemas across the <st1:country-region w:st="on">UK</st1:country-region> and worldwide. <a href="http://onscreen.rsc.org.uk/richard-ii/default.aspx"><span style="color: blue;">More information can be found on the RSC Onscreen site</span></a>. The recorded play will also be released on DVD.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.david-tennant.com/2009/id194.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Read more about the RSC's Richard II on our website</span></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>

BBC Radio 4 David Tennant Gregory Doran Richard II Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre Saturday Review Discuss Richard II Starring David Tennant

The new Royal Shakespeare Company staging of Richard II was one of the topics under discussion on BBC Radio 4's Saturday Review programme yesterday. The production, which stars David Tennant and is directed by Gregory Doran, opened last Thursday to g…

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Read The Latest Illuminations Blog On Richard II: ‘Praises, Of Whose Taste The Wise Are Fond’

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEGdtJeyi-b0VqcXaRSwCWecxRnzKQgAsOYOfEYrkJCOW_sxnSJIV-UWAAt_ZnKMduhyphenhyphenxsTqrfFM5bAAW8Ex-FDAXua0RqxI0LrMhH8vrjAtecBPCE1kA_4CY76INg6_7ei4IzleWaKmP-/s1600/Rich17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEGdtJeyi-b0VqcXaRSwCWecxRnzKQgAsOYOfEYrkJCOW_sxnSJIV-UWAAt_ZnKMduhyphenhyphenxsTqrfFM5bAAW8Ex-FDAXua0RqxI0LrMhH8vrjAtecBPCE1kA_4CY76INg6_7ei4IzleWaKmP-/s640/Rich17.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">John Wyver, writer, producer and co-founder of Illuminations, has published his latest blog on the new Royal Shakespeare Company production of <i>Richard II. </i>John will be producing the live broadcast of the play into cinemas across the UK and around the world, and has been documenting the journey of the production from early rehearsals, previews and opening night as he and his team prepare for the filmed event.  </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the new article, John lists his top ten things that he really likes about Greg Doran's new staging. He includes the minimalist design, the live miusic, the terrific ensemble cast and of course, the central performance of David Tennant as King Richard:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"<i>Occasionally you see a production in which there is an actor who commands your eye at every moment – not in a selfish way, but simply through their charisma. I remember Vanessa Redgrave in The Lady from the Sea long ago in a Manchester Royal Exchange production, and I remember Kevin Spacey at the Almeida in The Iceman Cometh… and I will remember David Tennant in <st1:city w:st="on">Stratford</st1:city>.</i>"</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/2013/10/ten/"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Read the full blog post here</b></span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">John is also compiling a list of <i>Richard II</i> resources and reactions to the play which will be updated regularly</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/2013/10/words-life-and-all/"><span style="color: blue;">Read more here</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Richard II stars David Tennant with Nigel Lindsay, Michael Pennington, Oliver Ford Davies, Jane Lapotaire and Emma Hamilton. The production is in residence at The Royal Shakespeare Theatre in <st1:place w:st="on">Stratford-upon-Avon</st1:place> until 16th November 2013. It transfers to the Barbican in <st1:city w:st="on">London</st1:city> on 9th December where it plays until 25th January 2014. Both runs are currently sold out but returns are available: call the RSC on 0844 800 1110 to check availability</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The production will be filmed on November 13th and broadcast into cinemas across the <st1:place w:st="on">UK</st1:place>and worldwide. <a href="http://onscreen.rsc.org.uk/richard-ii/default.aspx"><span style="color: blue;">More information can be found on the RSC Onscreen site</span></a>. The recorded play will also be released on DVD.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.david-tennant.com/2009/id194.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Read more about the RSC's Richard II on our website</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div>

David Tennant Gregory Doran Illuminations Richard II Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre Read The Latest Illuminations Blog On Richard II: ‘Praises, Of Whose Taste The Wise Are Fond’

John Wyver, writer, producer and co-founder of Illuminations, has published his latest blog on the new Royal Shakespeare Company production of Richard II. John will be producing the live broadcast of the play into cinemas across the UK and around the…

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PHOTOS: Richard II Review And Gallery Of New Production Images

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUphn2JCbLwdaEPOxUq_LqcE245n72Dkxw9f99YUaaR42nhzd5XnFa9pM9TNsr-g1q_wkfRKCBVy3t1YS8TyMQshQpHXDYShLXw8NEBzr3_SdIKULPj6YFkL4SSbmgaRy7TN3nLuoGRCQv/s1600/Rich02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUphn2JCbLwdaEPOxUq_LqcE245n72Dkxw9f99YUaaR42nhzd5XnFa9pM9TNsr-g1q_wkfRKCBVy3t1YS8TyMQshQpHXDYShLXw8NEBzr3_SdIKULPj6YFkL4SSbmgaRy7TN3nLuoGRCQv/s640/Rich02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Coventry Telegraph have reviewed the new Royal Shakespeare Company production of Richard II starring David Tennant. With their review they have posted a photo gallery which includes some new production images from the play.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Reviewer Catherine Vonledebur says:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Former Dr Who star Tennant, whose run as Hamlet in 2008 was a sell-out, gives an intriguing and intelligent performance as the flawed ruler."</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25-qS1r78Vr8U9QDMtP37Qw2Phf-WNHYLd9CxRlTtzxNB1wf98msMGqHu_Ht0PP2Ut-BG354Z77KduXn1ShONov0vmss5BQKyh0HXa2W01AHSkeFqcLSGJ6E1bdhS025twmhCISCAaTQG/s1600/Rich05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25-qS1r78Vr8U9QDMtP37Qw2Phf-WNHYLd9CxRlTtzxNB1wf98msMGqHu_Ht0PP2Ut-BG354Z77KduXn1ShONov0vmss5BQKyh0HXa2W01AHSkeFqcLSGJ6E1bdhS025twmhCISCAaTQG/s640/Rich05.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimDAROBK5FsZr8hGBP1mOA_kWH9DnGx9KLgIth0RxPoXwrKkdioW_ud_BPHePYrMy-UrQKEcy4KzrK-dWV3GNNOBm-kmsNGtky7K9kCu80P4tV_I6LE61HUgMCrxoMIp9zhBtFOZrhi_Ne/s1600/Rich10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimDAROBK5FsZr8hGBP1mOA_kWH9DnGx9KLgIth0RxPoXwrKkdioW_ud_BPHePYrMy-UrQKEcy4KzrK-dWV3GNNOBm-kmsNGtky7K9kCu80P4tV_I6LE61HUgMCrxoMIp9zhBtFOZrhi_Ne/s640/Rich10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/whats-on/whats-on-opinion/photos-richard-ii-royal-shakespeare-6205544"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Read the review and see the full photo gallery here</span></a><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Richard II stars David Tennant with Nigel Lindsay, Michael Pennington, Oliver Ford Davies, Jane Lapotaire and Emma Hamilton. The production is in residence at The Royal Shakespeare Theatre in <st1:place w:st="on">Stratford-upon-Avon</st1:place> until 16th November 2013. It transfers to the Barbican in <st1:city w:st="on">London</st1:city> on 9th December where it plays until 25th January 2014. Both runs are currently sold out but returns are available: call the RSC on 0844 800 1110 to check availability</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The production will be filmed on November 13th and broadcast into cinemas across the UK and worldwide. The recorded play will also be released on DVD.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.david-tennant.com/2009/id194.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More information about Richard II starring David Tennant is available on our website</span></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>

David Tennant Gregory Doran Richard II Royal Shakespeare Company PHOTOS: Richard II Review And Gallery Of New Production Images

The Coventry Telegraph have reviewed the new Royal Shakespeare Company production of Richard II starring David Tennant. With their review they have posted a photo gallery which includes some new production images from the play.Reviewer Catherine Vonl…

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REVIEW: Richard II Starring David Tennant - A Stunning Return To Stratford-upon-Avon

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNoTsOMiDRPlJpy2RUnY7bFSTt0uh6BTEeljN_82AaeITZq80efmWumd1CPOqKd0ASeuAEhhbxUUiHorcuI1BEfk7nfABxDdd6TB329AgP9h6VFnYJjzBqlNs7pTz86NHadCRU6xk6dNeh/s1600/WoS07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNoTsOMiDRPlJpy2RUnY7bFSTt0uh6BTEeljN_82AaeITZq80efmWumd1CPOqKd0ASeuAEhhbxUUiHorcuI1BEfk7nfABxDdd6TB329AgP9h6VFnYJjzBqlNs7pTz86NHadCRU6xk6dNeh/s1600/WoS07.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Gregory Doran’s much anticipated staging of <i>Richard II</i> opened last night at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in <st1:place w:st="on">Stratford-upon-Avon</st1:place>. The production also marked the return to Stratford of David Tennant, taking the title role in his first collaboration with Doran since <i>Hamlet </i>and <i>Love’s Labours Lost</i> (2008). Expectation has been high since the announcement of the play in January; those expectations have indeed been met and the outcome is stunning.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">David Tennant, it must be said, is superb in one of Shakepeare’s most challenging roles, giving the misunderstood, self-absorbed and unlikeable king both pathos and a wry humour. His Richard is a lofty creature, a spoilt child in the body of a man, vain, haughty, capricious and selfish. Tennant floats around the stage, an androgynous figure clad in flowing robes with his lengthy locks cascading as, with head held back, sneering down his nose, he makes decisions seemingly on a whim. Yet the power of David Tennant is that we can go from recoiling in horror from Richard at his mistreatment of the dying Gaunt to, just a few scenes later, choking with emotion along with him as he realises that he has taken his divine right to kingship for granted and that his power is now slipping from his grasp. The turning point in our feelings towards Richard must be the point at which he learns of the fate of Bushey and Green: the numbing shock and horror is clear on Tennant’s face and the emotional charge runs on through to a poignant ‘death of kings’ speech. Tennant captures the mercurial quality of the king’s character with ease and his deep understanding of the text shines through as he draws subtle meaning from the words and brings what could be stilted verse to sparkling life.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQRdgR4RuNpZUu80HbT3mjgGmjfNeaTMtv-O9nPVDHp6F-hYs78EhgcWk_J54P6DdkzoSluzcmjHRdF0fRcbkzGpzzvVHvZVEX4p_SI0jLKD3dQH2HUE26QapcpoaRtxntI6mAg4IZbhQ/s1600/WoS13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQRdgR4RuNpZUu80HbT3mjgGmjfNeaTMtv-O9nPVDHp6F-hYs78EhgcWk_J54P6DdkzoSluzcmjHRdF0fRcbkzGpzzvVHvZVEX4p_SI0jLKD3dQH2HUE26QapcpoaRtxntI6mAg4IZbhQ/s1600/WoS13.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, it’s not all for David Tennant to carry the weight of the complex narrative and thankfully there is not a weak member of the cast. Nigel Lindsay is perfect as a commanding Bolingbroke: even in the early scenes it is possible to see the king that this nobleman and warrior will soon become. Michael Pennington plays John of Gaunt with a fierce dignity, railing against injustices and standing up for what he holds dear right to his dying breath. Oliver Ford Davies gives an astounding performance as the Duke of York, an honourable, traditional man who finds himself suddenly encumbered with the great burden of governing a fractured nation. He is torn and bewildered as he struggles to reconcile his obedience to his king with what he realises to be the ethical course of action. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Richard II</i> is not a play known for its wealth of strong female roles. Emma Hamilton finds in the role of the Queen a sense of loyalty and love, even though that love might be unrequited. Her performance is bookended by those of two older women. Jane Lapotaire makes an explosive return to the RSC in her single scene as the grief-wracked Duchess of Gloucester, while Marty Cruickshank as the Duchess of York wrings humour out of what could be a grim situation as she pleads for the life of her son, Aumerle.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oliver Rix also has to be commended for his loyal and emotional Aumerle. Richard’s gentler moments are shared with his kinsman, and as Richard’s fall becomes unavoidable, the young man struggles to accept what his king has already understood. Their obvious tenderness is overplayed by neither Rix nor Tennant.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The open space of the theatre lends itself to a stark yet atmospheric set. Greg Doran spoke during development of the verticality that he perceived in the play and through the minimalist designs of Stephen Brimson Lewis he makes the most of the building’s height, from upper galleries to the understage and including a mechanical gangway from which the King distances himself from his subjects. Ironically as Richard falls he becomes less cruel and feckless and more humble and human and almost likeable. There are distinct parallels, certainly suggested by his appearance, with a Christ-like figure on the road to crucifixion. Doran has given the climax of the drama his own sharp twist, which is signposted by an ambiguous moment: a genuine display of love which is equally a betrayal by a Judas figure.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCluIhxvtpEMfOwESXSPLh-HZUWh4ttBEbBNAXTv4wKyqu7iRQfA8hr9BnQaGagIZ0voQOA7Z_ggGODmeax53HZjL3J_1o0ji7iYRINpaY5ot_envInM8pfR0LpmMIWAJPI21qy5aVMsy/s1600/RII-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCluIhxvtpEMfOwESXSPLh-HZUWh4ttBEbBNAXTv4wKyqu7iRQfA8hr9BnQaGagIZ0voQOA7Z_ggGODmeax53HZjL3J_1o0ji7iYRINpaY5ot_envInM8pfR0LpmMIWAJPI21qy5aVMsy/s640/RII-15.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The production is staged in traditional dress. However, it is notable that the themes of political wastefulness, ambition, greed and backstabbing and general public dissatisfaction remain as relevant now as they were when it was originally performed. Our public figures, the great and the good, are never more than a few errors in judgement away from falling from grace and there is always someone waiting in the wings to take their place. David Tennant has achieved the task here of ensuring that his fallen king is neither hated nor mocked but instead has the ready sympathy of the audience. And he has done so with consummate ease. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Richard II is in residence at The Royal Shakespeare Theatre in <st1:place w:st="on">Stratford-upon-Avon</st1:place> until 16th November 2013. It transfers to the Barbican in <st1:city w:st="on">London</st1:city>on 9th December where it plays until 25th January 2014. Both runs are currently sold out but returns are available: call the RSC on 0844 800 1110 to check availability </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.david-tennant.com/2009/id194.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More information about Richard II starring David Tennant is available on our website</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

David Tennant Gregory Doran Richard II Royal Shakespeare Theatre Theatre REVIEW: Richard II Starring David Tennant - A Stunning Return To Stratford-upon-Avon

Gregory Doran’s much anticipated staging of Richard II opened last night at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. The production also marked the return to Stratford of David Tennant, taking the title role in his first collaboration wi…

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UPDATED: David Tennant's Richard II Opens In Stratford-upon-Avon To Rave Reviews

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTZf1pw_weJTT-BasPX6EC8aCS0pFgCpnii4aMkXJGiIDmvCuQfsS5O6G5OP3zmmKTmsMOxxgi42JjPpVDcuVYr8nug_Z93abpAEboXDmQGuhnmwNiVLbC2jAizrTA72aEEK8-fkOijI/s1600/rich1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTZf1pw_weJTT-BasPX6EC8aCS0pFgCpnii4aMkXJGiIDmvCuQfsS5O6G5OP3zmmKTmsMOxxgi42JjPpVDcuVYr8nug_Z93abpAEboXDmQGuhnmwNiVLbC2jAizrTA72aEEK8-fkOijI/s640/rich1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /> <br /> David Tennant's latest theatre project, Richard II, has opened to rave reviews after it's Press Night at The Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon last night.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>It's a 4 star review from The Times with Dominic Maxwell saying:</b></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He hasn't got a clue has he? You can see that from the moment David Tennant's Richard II arrives on stage with his chin uo, his hair Timotei-long, his robes and his diction refined to the point of self parody. This takes a moment to adjust to. So regularly do we root for Tennant as the heroic outsider, whether in Doctor Who or Broadchurch or even in his RSC Hamlet, that it's odd to see him back a losing horse. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When he descends from the ceiling on a golden throne, the gap couldn't be clearer between his notion of himself as a God-given ruler and our notion of him as a bit of a berk.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not that Tennant's performance or Gregory Doran's RSC production turn out to be cartoonish. One of the hottest tickets of the year long before it opened, this is a clear, propulsive, absorbing three hours of a history play that is no cinch to stage. After all, it's in verse. It has no battles. At the first sign of uprising, the belly aching Richard pretty much deposes himself ("Let's talk of graves, of worms, of epitaphs..."). "Richard II is not an action packed drama", understates the introduction to the Penguin edition of the play. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here, though, it grips, aided by Paul Englishby's beautiful period music and Stephen Brimson Lewis's spare, guilded sets. And what Tennant does, brilliantly, is to suggest a man who feels as hollow as his crown. Who play acts at being himself. Who makes bad judgments, such as expelling his cousing Bolingbroke, soon to become Henry IV, that are a weak man's idea of being strong. He is hiding his true sexuality too, to judge by his long kiss with his cousin, Oliver Rix's Aumerle. And when he is trounced by Nigel Lindsay's stocky, gym-teacher-like Bolingbroke, he goes from ruler to martyr. he proffers the crown as if holding out a stick to a dog ("Here, cousin!").</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's electrifying.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We don't love him, but we get his grief in a play suffused with a sense of loss. Jane Lapotaire's Duchess of Gloucester mourns her husband and Michael Pennington's John Of Gaunt mourns what Richard has done to England in anguished moments that are both magnificent and a bit hard to absorb so early on. By the second half, though, Doran's production can sell everything from wit to desolation. Near the end, the Yorks, played by Oliver Ford Davies and Marty Cruickshank, row about his turning in their son, Aumerle as a traitor. It's pretty funny. It's also a resonant reminder of how the power play and posturing of politics is no job for amateurs. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8A69tkeeGVcT9vSElHkjmf3OaU_aRIpKvB_1uUKL74_zBV2b6sEYmRN52DF0urgVRLDXW5z1PIpOyw94Ci3CzX_A2DDVw1sVyaBlqe3PgZzzlY4TGQdHXw0lTLK5UrLq81IBtExt0vAE/s1600/r2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8A69tkeeGVcT9vSElHkjmf3OaU_aRIpKvB_1uUKL74_zBV2b6sEYmRN52DF0urgVRLDXW5z1PIpOyw94Ci3CzX_A2DDVw1sVyaBlqe3PgZzzlY4TGQdHXw0lTLK5UrLq81IBtExt0vAE/s1600/r2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><b>Writing a 4 star review for <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/first-night-richard-ii-royal-shakespeare-theatre-stratforduponavon-8887542.html#" target="_blank">The Independent</a> Paul Taylor says:</b></span><br /><div class="storyContent" style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.546875px; text-align: justify;"><h5><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">They covered themselves in glory five years ago with Hamlet; now David Tennant and Gregory Doran join forces again for this lucid and gripping account of Richard II. Having played the most intellectually searching of Shakespeare’s protagonists, who is painfully miscast as a revenge hero, Tennant – in splendid form here – trains his talents on the most self-absorbed and inward-looking of the Bard’s monarchs, who is fatally miscast as God’s anointed deputy on earth.</span></span></h5></div><div class="storyContent" style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><div class="body"><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In his gorgeous, gold-embroidered robes (and long, flowing hair extensions, to boot), this Richard is wrapped in the mystique of medieval majesty. But he occupies the Gothic throne with a slouch of disgruntlement, his features congealed in disdain. Admirably resisting any temptation to make the king likeable, Tennant vividly exudes the bored irritability that erupts in tyrannical caprice. And impatience is making him reckless, too. In this production, he brazenly hears the dispute between Bolingbroke and Mowbray at the (interpolated) ceremonial lying-in-state of the Duke of Gloucester, whose murky murder (and, implicitly, Richard’s involvement in it) is itself the bone of contention.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But then Richard is a monarch who would always choose theatrical effect over political prudence. With his great gift for playfulness, Tennant runs heavily sarcastic rings round his usurper in the deposition scene. Holding the crown at arm’s length, and with his back to the assembled company, he calls out “Here cousin”, in the tones of someone inviting a dog to play fetch. This is not a Richard who luxuriates in the lyricism of grief. Tennant delivers the plaintive, self-pitying arias with a scathing irony for the most part, flecked by tiny surrenders to abject panic – as though he were at once sufferer and observer of the tragic process whereby, when the royal persona shatters, it exposes the naked, insecure person underneath. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By contrast, Nigel Lindsay’s Bolingbroke presents himself as a plain-speaking bloke who has returned from exile solely to claim his rightful inheritance – though there’s a suggestion in his hooded watchfulness and the brutality with which he dispatches Richard’s flatterers that he has a devious, long-term strategy. He plays his cards close to his chest and is embarrassed by Richard, whose upstaging antics leave him having to force face-saving laughter in front of his followers.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Interestingly, though, Doran is more interested in the king’s relationship with his other cousin, the young Aumerle. I should perhaps issue a spoiler alert for the rest of this paragraph. This production gives the pair a charged, private sequence on the walls of Flint Castle (evoked by the mobile gantry that slices across Stephen Brimson Lewis’s excellent design). The monarch’s speech of speculative capitulation (“What must the King do now? Must he submit?”) reduces his devoted number one supporter to such heartfelt, quiet tears that Tennant’s Richard is touched to a moment of rare compassion for another creature – treating his cousin to a tenderly passionate kiss and a cradling on his breast. But Aumerle, whose riven emotional state is beautifully conveyed by Oliver Rix, turns into the production’s most extreme casualty of the world of divided loyalties. Shopped to the new king by his own father for his treacherous plots, to what desperate lengths might such a man go to prove that he’s been born again politically? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There isn’t a weak link in the cast. Ferocious eloquence overcomes deathbed infirmity in Michael Pennington’s superb portrayal of John of Gaunt, and Oliver Ford Davies gives a fine edge of grumpy comedy to the Duke of York’s conscience-stricken dithering. Another palpable hit for the Tennant/Doran collaboration, the production transfers to the Barbican in December and will be broadcast live in cinemas on 13 November.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguYEUaQ91yFiBgZGmUqw-4NOCQlvFJdKb4iY2TGVYgrnkQ1IaIpV_qpGncUk81XgFFWajoklYMj02BYXstnt30EwLNrAmFsW1pYBVTBuml5Pa2MJkl6u1Cv4IG-TL1_U6qjcSUwrDBswM/s1600/r12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguYEUaQ91yFiBgZGmUqw-4NOCQlvFJdKb4iY2TGVYgrnkQ1IaIpV_qpGncUk81XgFFWajoklYMj02BYXstnt30EwLNrAmFsW1pYBVTBuml5Pa2MJkl6u1Cv4IG-TL1_U6qjcSUwrDBswM/s1600/r12.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://t.co/jjsNaSWmEC" target="_blank">The Guardian's</a> Michael Billington also gives 4 stars and heaps praise upon the cast and creatives:</span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This show marks the start of Gregory Doran's six-year plan to present the entire Shakespeare canon. It's fair to say that his own beautifully crafted, richly detailed production sets a high standard for himself and others to aim at. David Tennant, in a mesmerising performance that grows in power as Richard's authority declines, also reminds us that the Royal Shakespeare Company is an ensemble that paradoxically needs stars.</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's a sign of Doran's care that he makes clear the complex back-story that illuminates Shakespeare's play. An audience needs to know that Richard's original sin lies in sanctioning the murder of his uncle, the Duke of Gloucester. Michael Boyd began his 2007 production by having Richard stepping lightly over the corpse of the dead duke. Doran, even before Richard's entry, shows us elaborate funeral rites with three sopranos singing religious anthems in the upper galleries and the Duchess of Gloucester bent in grief over her husband's tomb. This is clearly a court steeped in mourning.</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The prelude also gives Tennant a vital context in which to work. His Richard, with his brocade gown and Christ-like hair, initially affects an air of listless boredom as his burly barons hurl accusations of treason at each other. But there's a thrilling moment when Tennant gives the banished Mowbray a piercing stare as if daring him to spill the beans about the king's part in Gloucester's murder. Tennant combines inner guilt with a careless disregard for realpolitik as he seizes the land and goods of John of Gaunt after his death: a point reinforced here by the fact that we see tuns of treasure being bodily transported.</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tennant's strengths, as we know from his Hamlet, are a capacity for quicksilver thought and an almost boyish vulnerability. And, even if he might do more to convey the patterned lyricism of the language, what he brings out excellently is the fact that Richard only learns to value kingship after he has lost it. In his decline, Tennant casually tosses the crown away and, at one point, skittishly places it on the head of his adored Aumerle. But in the Westminster deposition scene, where Tennant is at his best, he challenges Bolingbroke to "seize the crown" and, when his rival rises to the bait, immediately inverts it to suggest a falling bucket. Tennant's great achievement is to attract our sympathy to what the gardener calls a "wasteful king" who abuses power when he has it and who achieves tragic dignity only in his downfall.</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But this production, which combines period costumes with back-projections in Stephen Brimson Lewis's elegant design, is emphatically no one-man show. Nigel Lindsay's Bolingbroke is a palpably dangerous figure who treats Richard's remission of his initial banishment with surly disdain and openly scorns the deposed king's self-conscious theatricality. It is also good to see a number of RSC veterans operating at top form in key roles.</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oliver Ford Davies is brilliant as the Duke of York in that he highlights both the comedy and pathos of a man torn between ancestral loyalty to the crown and a recognition of Bolingbroke's power. Michael Pennington's John of Gaunt is also a fine study of a dying man bursting with intemperate rage at Richard's betrayal of his country. And Jane Lapotaire turns the Duchess of Gloucester into a silver-haired figure whose widowed grief manifests itself in a burning appetite for revenge.</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The packed houses for this production's run in both Stratford and at the Barbican may have much to do with Tennant's star presence. But this is the strongest company the RSC has fielded in years, and what Doran's production brings out is the rich complexity of a play that raises the eternal question of at what point it becomes legitimate to unseat a manifestly flawed ruler. Shakespeare's play may be set in 14th-century England. It remains, however, a timelessly political work.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPuqquCtmD2RVhKBWxItVSBrQn7mRqAG2k3jgUHOJRPU1tfv5FBkBHqtAT8h7YFBdrfaGUYcQLU71-2aBpTqDJ6SbwbrYtsoAriYK_D0FELCLBbfauR-wc9jYP0xWLsaxWN06FoLCXkbs/s1600/r13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPuqquCtmD2RVhKBWxItVSBrQn7mRqAG2k3jgUHOJRPU1tfv5FBkBHqtAT8h7YFBdrfaGUYcQLU71-2aBpTqDJ6SbwbrYtsoAriYK_D0FELCLBbfauR-wc9jYP0xWLsaxWN06FoLCXkbs/s1600/r13.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>It's another 4 star review from <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-reviews/10385663/Richard-II-Royal-Shakespeare-Theatre-Stratford-upon-Avon-review.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter" target="_blank">The Telegraph's</a> Dominic Cavendish:</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /> <span style="text-align: start;">Five years after his </span>spellbinding Hamlet<span style="text-align: start;">, David Tennant is back at the RSC and reunited with director (now artistic director) Gregory Doran for Richard II. Last time round there was a lot of hoo-ha about Doctor Who and a box-office frenzy. Maybe there’ll be more of that again, with Tennant joining Matt Smith for the 50th anniversary special next month. But for the moment, a calm air of focus prevails; Tennant, 42, is in his natural element – and day tickets are available.</span></span><br /><div class="secondPar" style="line-height: normal; text-align: start;"><div style="padding: 0px 0px 0.7em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">His hair takes some getting used to: great gingery-brown extensions trail girlishly downwards. Long, magisterial, quasi-medieval robes add to the effeminate impression. In Act III, at Flint Castle, beset by ruin, this Richard leans close and kisses his cousin Aumerle (the youthful, boyish Oliver Rix) on the lips. As with Hamlet, so with Richard – there’s an identity crisis at play (“remember who you are”, Aumerle counsels, as if that were possible), but here it’s of a sexual nature too. And in a further directorial flourish, Doran makes Aumerle the last face the imprisoned, ousted monarch sees, plunging the dagger into him.</span></div></div><div class="thirdPar" style="line-height: normal; text-align: start;"><div style="padding: 0px 0px 0.7em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Overall, though, this production is more reverent than radical. Doran has suggested he will work slowly, steadily, through the canon – and the first scene especially, in which Nigel Lindsay’s tough, gruff, almost too-too solid Bolingbroke squares up to Antony Byrne’s aggrieved Mowbray – each accusing the other of treason – feels slow and steady to a fault. Richard’s reign, some 20 years in at this stage (1398), was in severe trouble. Thanks to an emphasised aura of restraint – signalled by a stark, simple set from Stephen Brimson Lewis, augmented by subtle projections on towering screens – you don’t get much sense of the hurly-burly of this chapter of history or of events spinning wildly out of the king’s weakening control.</span></div></div><div class="fourthPar" style="line-height: normal; text-align: start;"><div style="padding: 0px 0px 0.7em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With his startled eyes and concentrated frown, Tennant is frail, pale and consistently interesting but the nervous energy he excels in is confined to quarters early on. Trumpets sound, sopranos trill sacred music as if wafting incense; the king is embalmed in ceremony, cloaked in remoteness.</span></div></div><div class="fifthPar" style="text-align: start;"><div style="line-height: normal; padding: 0px 0px 0.7em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s the older hands who galvanise proceedings with emotional intensity in the first half. A quivering Jane Lapotaire as the widowed Duchess of Gloucester, spilling over with unconfined grief, that perpetually stooped, hangdog actor Oliver Ford Davies as the fretful Duke of York and Michael Pennington, little short of magnificent as John of Gaunt – lending febrile and ferocious emphasis to his “This sceptr’d isle” speech and to those last-gasp accusations against Richard.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; padding: 0px 0px 0.7em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The evening is always lucid but only truly crystalises as things fall apart. Richard spasms with panic as he grasps the frailty of existence, crawling on the floor in abjection. He’s appealingly sardonic as he bows in exaggeration before his usurper, and at the end, having taken on the aspect of Christ, he appears aloft on a gantry, looking down in beatific accusation as Bolingbroke contemplates the blood on his hands. Tennant shines, but he has shone brighter.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmBH9kWWElSe3qGXqrS9-eFFgic0h2B4_a1z027qu2Y8u9wUGiYi6SG0J67OzRkjEYVfYEDrqiT9tpXlfEFyVjRinktkGlX5kaVntZrHTr0YmMvTMuF_McCmfdd2cAEECbcBEcFMOWS8/s1600/r17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmBH9kWWElSe3qGXqrS9-eFFgic0h2B4_a1z027qu2Y8u9wUGiYi6SG0J67OzRkjEYVfYEDrqiT9tpXlfEFyVjRinktkGlX5kaVntZrHTr0YmMvTMuF_McCmfdd2cAEECbcBEcFMOWS8/s1600/r17.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="padding: 0px 0px 0.7em;"><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/theatre/437598/Richard-II-at-RSC-Stratford-upon-Avon-review" target="_blank">The Daily Express</a> gives a 5 star review with Neil Norman saying:</b></span></div><div class="p1" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Often represented as effete and capricious, even gay, Richard needs a very special actor to seek out all the crevices of his personality.</span></div><div class="p1" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">David Tennant is that actor. From the moment he arrives on stage in a kind of gilded sheath with his long hair held back by a crown to attend his uncle Gloucester's funeral, he shows us with sly precision a man in thrall to his own vanity, seduced by his anointed position and intelligent enough to be aware of both. As his role becomes increasingly challenging and challenged by the remorseless Bolingbroke (Nigel Lindsay), Richard's doubts about his fitness to rule leak out as if from invisible wounds while the sub-textual debates - pragmatist v aesthete, philistine v artist - hover in the ether.</span></div><div class="p1" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Gregory Doran's production is superbly orchestrated from the opening funeral in a soaring Gothic cathedral with three sopranos and musicians to Richard's abdication which turns into a tug-of-war over the crown with Bolingbroke.</span></div><div class="p1" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a lucid, moving production packed with tremendous performances. From Michael Pennington's John of Gaunt, the last great Englishman, to Oliver Ford Davies's wonderfully bewildered Duke of York. Emma Hamilton as the Queen, Marty Cruickshank as the Duchess of York and Jane Lapotaire as the bereaved Duchess of Gloucester all make striking contributions.</span></div><div style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The sense of England is prevalent throughout. Returning from Ireland Richard strokes the ground with a lover's caress, as if nourished by the earth itself. Whether sashaying around like a 14th-century David Bowie or stumbling like a Christ figure hauled before Bolingbroke's Pontius Pilate, Tennant captures Richard's androgyny, suggesting a man more asexual than bisexual. But he is no pushover. When the murderers come for him he goes down fighting. I was sorely tempted to cheer.</span></div><div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Verdict: 5/5</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjym_HFVfXyVynAKVr2yNb0trktrEhqQcsFO6JXWRsnNAmha64S6KiHEuXveI0nOTREvG87fTgFlyW5oOk-J4-8u6P7wsS05yFdgUbKMg7J4Tway9FkC2TKfXveOKBa_p8FhWg-8-ldrOg/s1600/r14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjym_HFVfXyVynAKVr2yNb0trktrEhqQcsFO6JXWRsnNAmha64S6KiHEuXveI0nOTREvG87fTgFlyW5oOk-J4-8u6P7wsS05yFdgUbKMg7J4Tway9FkC2TKfXveOKBa_p8FhWg-8-ldrOg/s1600/r14.jpg" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/theatre/richard-ii-royal-shakespeare-theatre--theatre-review-8888556.html" target="_blank">Henry Hitchings also rates the show as 4 star in The Evening Standard:</a></b></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Five years on from his electrifying Hamlet, David Tennant returns to the Royal Shakespeare Company to play Richard II. From the moment of its announcement this has been one of the year’s hottest tickets.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Tennant does not disappoint. He delivers a vivid, intelligent performance, at least as mesmerising as the best of his TV work. He is certainly not afraid to make Richard dislikable. Instead of the poetic soul we tend to see, his Richard is irritable. In the early scenes he is petulant and smug.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">With fluting voice and waist-length hair (Tennant sports mighty extensions) he is a picture of prissy narcissism. And he skips around the stage like a child who has had too many sweets.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">From the outset Tennant’s Richard is excitingly unpredictable and as his authority crumbles he transforms intriguingly from a gilded tyrant into a more vulnerable character — yet one who is capable of bursts of aggression. By the end he is a holy man in a flowing white robe.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Gregory Doran’s production moves slowly for the first hour or so but it is satisfying both visually and dramatically. It also benefits from the strongest RSC cast in a long time.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Tennant’s Richard contrasts nicely with Nigel Lindsay’s robust, manly Bolingbroke. Michael Pennington makes a poignantly eloquent John of Gaunt, while Jane Lapotaire and Marty Cruickshank bring real substance to lesser roles. Oliver Ford Davies deserves a special mention: his Duke of York is an unalloyed delight.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Doran places an unusual emphasis on the king’s cousin Aumerle (Oliver Rix) and it is Richard’s relationship with him — coloured by awkward lust — that defines the production.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">This is a clear, detailed and dynamic account of a drama that can often seem glutted with artful rhetoric and ceremonial formality. It is an impressive start to Doran’s campaign to stage all Shakespeare’s plays. Richard II will come to the Barbican in December, as well as being shown in cinemas on November 13.</span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div>

David Tennant Gregory Doran Reviews Richard II Royal Shakespeare Company Royal Shakespeare Theatre Theatre UPDATED: David Tennant's Richard II Opens In Stratford-upon-Avon To Rave Reviews

David Tennant's latest theatre project, Richard II, has opened to rave reviews after it's Press Night at The Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon last night.It's a 4 star review from The Times with Dominic Maxwell saying:He hasn't got a…

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