Richard II

Synopsis: Video recording of Zoe Caldwell’s 1979 production of Richard II for the Stratford (Ontario) Shakespeare Festival. Three actors alternated the role of King Richard.
Language: English
Country: Canada
Medium: Video
Technical information: Colour / Sound
Recording date: 6 Jun 1979

Director

Zoe Caldwell

Writer

William Shakespeare

Music

Berthold Carriere

Production Design

Daphne Dare

Costume

Daphne Dare

Cast

Stephen Russell	King Richard II
Marti Maraden	Queen Isabel
William Needles	John of Gaunt
Rod Beattie	Bolingbroke
Aemilia Hall	Duchess of Gloucester
Barrie Wood	Lord Berkeley
Christopher Blake	Captain of the Welsh army
David Dunbar	Sir Stephen Scroope
Edward Evanko	Bagot
Eric Donkin	Edmund of Langley, Duke of York
Geordie Johnson	Abbot of Westminster
Jessica Booker	Duchess of York
Joel Kenyon	Lord Marshal
Joel Kenyon	Duke of Surrey
Joel Kenyon	Lord Willoughby
John Wojda	Green
Lorne Kennedy	Duke of Aumerle
Michael Totzke	Harry Percy
Peter Donaldson (2)	Gardener
Peter Donaldson (2)	Earl of Salisbury
Richard Hardacre	Lord Fitzwalter
Richard Hardacre	Lord Ross
Rodger Barton	Sir Piers Exton
Rodger Barton	Gardener
Rodger Barton	Thomas Mowbray
Ted Follows	Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland
Wilfrid Dube	Bushy
William Needles	Bishop of Carlisle

Theatre: Avon Theatre
Theatre company: Stratford Shakespeare Company, Ontario
Production type: Stage Recordings
Historical period: Medieval
Plays: Richard II
Subjects: Drama
Keywords: Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); Alternating roles; Stratford (Ontario) Shakespeare Festival

Notes: The production alternated three actors in the role of Richard (Frank Maraden, Nicholas Pennell and Stephen Russell). The Festival Archive has videotaped recordings of all three performances. The critical response was that the alternation had more to do with giving more actors more work than it was making an informed comment about King Richard or the play (as with Ian Richardson and Richard Pasco alternating the roles of Richard and Bolingbroke in the RSC production).
History: The production ran in repertory 6 June-3 November 1979
Reviews: Berry, Ralph. Shakespeare Quarterly 31 (1980): 167-75.

SHAKESPEARE