Richard III

Synopsis
A video recording, using a single, fixed camera, of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s 1984 production of Richard III. Directed by Bill Alexander with Antony Sher as Richard.
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Medium
Video
Technical information
Colour / Sound
Recording date
9 Jan 1985
Duration
194 mins

Credits

Director
Bill Alexander
Writer
William Shakespeare
Music
Guy Woolfenden
Production Design
William Dudley
Cast
Harold InnocentKing Edward IV
Yvonne CouletteDuchess of York
Stephen DerbyPrince Edward (Prince of Wales)
Timothy LuckettRichard, the young Duke of York
Roger AllamGeorge, Duke of Clarence
Adam BarehamLord Rivers
Alison RoseCourt Lady
Andrew HallMarquis of Dorset
Andrew JarvisTressel
Andrew JarvisDuke of Norfolk
Andrew JarvisArchbishop of York (Cardinal)
Andy ReadmanEarl of Surrey
Andy ReadmanLord Grey
Antony SherRichard, Duke of Gloucester, later King Richard
Brian BlessedLord Hastings
Brian ParrMurderer (1)
Charles MillhamEarl of Surrey
Charles MillhamBerkeley
Charles MillhamWilliam Brandon
Charlotte WilliamsMargaret Plantagenet
Christopher RavenscroftEarl of Richmond
Dominic WilsonEdward Plantagenet
Donald McKillopBishop of Ely
Frances TomeltyQueen Elizabeth
Graham HepburnScrivener
Graham HepburnAlderman
Guy FithenKeeper of the Tower
Guy FithenSir Walter Herbert
Hannah WintersMargaret Plantagenet
Ian MackenzieSir Richard Ratcliffe
Jim HooperSir James Tyrrel
Jim HooperGhost of King Henry VI
Jonathan Scott-TaylorSir James Blunt
Liz MoscropCourt Lady
Malcolm StorryDuke of Buckingham
Norman HenryLord Mayor of London
Patricia RoutledgeQueen Margaret
Paul GregorySir Robert Brackenbury
Penny DownieLady Anne
Peter Miles (2)Stanley, Earl of Derby
Sarah WoodwardCourt Lady
Simon TemplemanSir William Catesby
Sion ProbertMurderer (2)
Steven PinnerMessenger/Guard
Steven PinnerEarl of Oxford

Additional Details

Theatre
Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Theatre company
Royal Shakespeare Company
Production type
Stage Recordings
Historical period
Medieval
Plays
Richard III
Subjects
Drama
Keywords
Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)
Related items
Saturday Review [14/07/1984]

Notes

Notes
Some smaller roles, and the child roles, were played by more than one actor alternating the parts - it is not known which actor played the part on the RSC’s recordings.
General
Sher played the role using crutches and gave an interpretation which has become a theatrical landmark, prompting the phrase ‘the bottled spider’ to describe Sher/Richard’s physical appearance.
History
Press night 19 June 1984. The production transferred to the Barbican.
Awards
Antony Sher won an Olivier Award for Best Actor for his performance as Richard.
Stills
Stills from, and design notes on, the production are available on the Arts and Humanities Performing Arts Data Service (AHDS) at http://ahds.ac.uk/performingarts/collections/designing-shakespeare.htm
Reviews
Sher, Antony Year of the King: an Actor’s Diary and Sketchbook (London: Chatto & Windus, 1985) gives a detailed and highly illuminating account of Sher’s personal experiences and preparation for the role of Richard.

Production Company

Name

Royal Shakespeare Company

Web
https://www.rsc.org.uk External site opens in new window
Address
Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Waterside
Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
CV37 6BB

Archive

Name

Shakespeare Birthplace Collections

Email
collections@shakespeare.org.uk
Web
https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespeare/collections/ External site opens in new window
Address
Shakespeare Centre
Henley Street
Stratford-upon-Avon
CV37 6QW

How to cite this record

Shakespeare, "Richard III". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/shakespeare/search/index.php/title/av38100 (Accessed 06 Oct 2024)