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Programme Notes for ‘ The Tragedy of Richard III’
This play was written by William Shakespeare, and it has been newly adapted for the performance at the Lyric Theatre by actor Michael Patrick and Director Oisin Kearney. The Audio-Described performance will be given on Sunday November 3rd, at the Matinee performance, 14.30. If you would like to hear these Programme Notes read out, please take your seats ten minutes before the show starts. The show will last approximately 2 hrs and ten minutes including an interval.
The play of Richard III was probably written by Shakespeare around 1592-1594. It is a story of intrigue, ambition, power, murder, and of one man’s battle against disability and society. All of the characters are members of the royal House of York or of the House of Lancaster, including servants and advisors. It’s a tragedy because almost everyone dies, not because Richard is disabled.
SET
The sets are sparse, and often simply tall curtains contain a scene. Later in the play three tall white walls form a frame within which simple constructions like a flight of wooden stairs or a tall, flat outline of a castle battlement are wheeled on or off. Lighting is used to indicate the time of the day, or create an atmosphere or mood. Props like a contemporary bouncy castle, chairs, drums, or a child’s rocking horse are moved around by the cast as required or when scenes change. In some scenes poles are used to hold up a canopy for a tent or to fly a flag. Armour and long swords are also carried on or worn by cast members as required.
CAST
The costumes for the play are based partly on Jacobean era clothes or on modern outfits. Men generally wear flat caps with brims and jackets with trousers to below the knees and stockings. Women tend to wear long gowns with their hair covered with close-fitting caps, scarves or with a more ornate head dress.
Paula Clarke plays the role of Tyrrell, a murderer hired by Richard to eliminate his enemies. Paula is profoundly deaf and is fluent in both British and Irish Sign Languages. She will use Sign Language and mime during the performance and has a sinister role in the story. She first appears wearing a yellow jacket, white hat and red and white striped leggings.
When the play opens King Edward (House of York) is on the throne. He is Richard’s eldest brother and is married to Queen Elizabeth (from the House of York). King Edward is portrayed by a tall tailor’s mannequin, a puppet wearing a crown. This puppet is wheeled on early in the play.
Buckingham is a close ally of Richard, and his right-hand man, prepared to carry out his wishes to help him gain the throne. This role is performed by Patrick McBrearty. He is tall with a beard, and wears a flat, black hat, black trousers and a black robe edged with a silver trim.
The role of Richard III is performed primarily by actor and writer Michael Patrick. The character of Richard III is villainous, he is jealous of his elder brother the King, Edward IV. Richard is prepared tell lies and is willing to use violence and kill members of his family - even women and children - to achieve the throne. The lead actor Michael Patrick was key to the creation of this production. Michael has recently been diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease, (MND) which affects the nervous system. In this play Michael uses a wheelchair as his throne. Michael is tall with red hair and a beard, and has a commanding voice and presence. He first appears wearing a pale grey shirt, a waistcoat, grey trousers and a golden crown. Later he wears a rich red velvet robe and a brown fur cape.
* For some performances Michael shares the role of Richard III with another actor, Zak Ford Williams as an alternate. Zak is a young actor and has experience in both stage and television roles. This is the first time that he has performed at the Lyric Theatre. He is also an actor with cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair.
Ghaliah Conroy, is an Irish/French Guianese actor and trained dancer. Born in Dublin she is a woman of colour and plays two roles, firstly she appears as Lady Anne the young widow and daughter-in-law of former King Henry VI. Lady Anne first appears wearing a long dark brown robe, with her hair covered by a scarf. While still grieving for her dead husband, Lady Anne is forced by Richard into a marriage with him. Later she plays the role of Earl Richmond, an enemy of Richard.
Lord Hastings believes that he is Richard’s best friend. Hastings has also been a loyal friend of Richard’s brother, King Edward IV. This ultimately causes difficulties for him. The role of Hastings is played by Michael Curran-Dorsano. He wears a long brown gown over a white long sleeved shirt. He is bare-headed and has dark brown hair and a short beard.
The Duchess of York is played by Alison Harding. She is the mother of Richard (and of his two brothers Edward and Clarence). As the story proceeds she is devastated by the death of her sons and then her grandsons, and is disgusted by Richard’s villainy. Alison is tall and slender, and not afraid to publicly challenge Richard.
Lord Stanley is a wealthy nobleman, initially loyal to Richard but troubled by his increasingly murderous behaviour. This role is performed by Chris McCurry. He wears a navy blue jacket and knee-length britches with white stockings. Stanley wears a flat navy cap with a white cloth that covers his ears. He also carries a large heavy sword.
Clarence is Richard’s gentle brother. He plays the part with a childlike, high pitched voice, and first appears wearing short white pants and a pair of white feather angel wings. Richard has him murdered in order to get him out of the way. This role is played by Ciaran O’Brien,
Queen Elizabeth is left vulnerable after her husband King Edward dies, and she is unable to protect her young family from Richard’s plots to kill them on his way to take the throne. She is angry and disgusted by Richard’s villainy. The role of Queen Elizabeth is played by Charlotte McCurry. She first appears wearing a long cream coloured dress with an elaborate headdress. Later she appears with shoulder length dark hair and wearing a modern style silver satin gown and a black and white cape.
Technical and creative support
Writer: William Shakespeare
Director : Oisin Kearney
Set and Costume Design : Niall McKeever
Script Adaptor : Michael Patrick and Oisin Kearney
Lighting Designer : Jonathan M.Daley
Sound Designer & Composer: Katie Richardson
Percussion Director: Austin Gallagher
Fight Director: Phillip Rafferty
Executive Producer : Jimmy Fay
Costume Manager: Catherine Kodicek
There are many more people who provide technical and creative support for the production and sponsors, and these are listed in the excellent programme for the show.
This play was written by William Shakespeare, and it has been newly adapted for the performance at the Lyric Theatre by actor Michael Patrick and Director Oisin Kearney. The Audio-Described performance will be given on Sunday November 3rd, at the Matinee performance, 14.30. If you would like to hear these Programme Notes read out, please take your seats ten minutes before the show starts. The show will last approximately 2 hrs and ten minutes including an interval.
The play of Richard III was probably written by Shakespeare around 1592-1594. It is a story of intrigue, ambition, power, murder, and of one man’s battle against disability and society. All of the characters are members of the royal House of York or of the House of Lancaster, including servants and advisors. It’s a tragedy because almost everyone dies, not because Richard is disabled.
SET
The sets are sparse, and often simply tall curtains contain a scene. Later in the play three tall white walls form a frame within which simple constructions like a flight of wooden stairs or a tall, flat outline of a castle battlement are wheeled on or off. Lighting is used to indicate the time of the day, or create an atmosphere or mood. Props like a contemporary bouncy castle, chairs, drums, or a child’s rocking horse are moved around by the cast as required or when scenes change. In some scenes poles are used to hold up a canopy for a tent or to fly a flag. Armour and long swords are also carried on or worn by cast members as required.
CAST
The costumes for the play are based partly on Jacobean era clothes or on modern outfits. Men generally wear flat caps with brims and jackets with trousers to below the knees and stockings. Women tend to wear long gowns with their hair covered with close-fitting caps, scarves or with a more ornate head dress.
Paula Clarke plays the role of Tyrrell, a murderer hired by Richard to eliminate his enemies. Paula is profoundly deaf and is fluent in both British and Irish Sign Languages. She will use Sign Language and mime during the performance and has a sinister role in the story. She first appears wearing a yellow jacket, white hat and red and white striped leggings.
When the play opens King Edward (House of York) is on the throne. He is Richard’s eldest brother and is married to Queen Elizabeth (from the House of York). King Edward is portrayed by a tall tailor’s mannequin, a puppet wearing a crown. This puppet is wheeled on early in the play.
Buckingham is a close ally of Richard, and his right-hand man, prepared to carry out his wishes to help him gain the throne. This role is performed by Patrick McBrearty. He is tall with a beard, and wears a flat, black hat, black trousers and a black robe edged with a silver trim.
The role of Richard III is performed primarily by actor and writer Michael Patrick. The character of Richard III is villainous, he is jealous of his elder brother the King, Edward IV. Richard is prepared tell lies and is willing to use violence and kill members of his family - even women and children - to achieve the throne. The lead actor Michael Patrick was key to the creation of this production. Michael has recently been diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease, (MND) which affects the nervous system. In this play Michael uses a wheelchair as his throne. Michael is tall with red hair and a beard, and has a commanding voice and presence. He first appears wearing a pale grey shirt, a waistcoat, grey trousers and a golden crown. Later he wears a rich red velvet robe and a brown fur cape.
* For some performances Michael shares the role of Richard III with another actor, Zak Ford Williams as an alternate. Zak is a young actor and has experience in both stage and television roles. This is the first time that he has performed at the Lyric Theatre. He is also an actor with cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair.
Ghaliah Conroy, is an Irish/French Guianese actor and trained dancer. Born in Dublin she is a woman of colour and plays two roles, firstly she appears as Lady Anne the young widow and daughter-in-law of former King Henry VI. Lady Anne first appears wearing a long dark brown robe, with her hair covered by a scarf. While still grieving for her dead husband, Lady Anne is forced by Richard into a marriage with him. Later she plays the role of Earl Richmond, an enemy of Richard.
Lord Hastings believes that he is Richard’s best friend. Hastings has also been a loyal friend of Richard’s brother, King Edward IV. This ultimately causes difficulties for him. The role of Hastings is played by Michael Curran-Dorsano. He wears a long brown gown over a white long sleeved shirt. He is bare-headed and has dark brown hair and a short beard.
The Duchess of York is played by Alison Harding. She is the mother of Richard (and of his two brothers Edward and Clarence). As the story proceeds she is devastated by the death of her sons and then her grandsons, and is disgusted by Richard’s villainy. Alison is tall and slender, and not afraid to publicly challenge Richard.
Lord Stanley is a wealthy nobleman, initially loyal to Richard but troubled by his increasingly murderous behaviour. This role is performed by Chris McCurry. He wears a navy blue jacket and knee-length britches with white stockings. Stanley wears a flat navy cap with a white cloth that covers his ears. He also carries a large heavy sword.
Clarence is Richard’s gentle brother. He plays the part with a childlike, high pitched voice, and first appears wearing short white pants and a pair of white feather angel wings. Richard has him murdered in order to get him out of the way. This role is played by Ciaran O’Brien,
Queen Elizabeth is left vulnerable after her husband King Edward dies, and she is unable to protect her young family from Richard’s plots to kill them on his way to take the throne. She is angry and disgusted by Richard’s villainy. The role of Queen Elizabeth is played by Charlotte McCurry. She first appears wearing a long cream coloured dress with an elaborate headdress. Later she appears with shoulder length dark hair and wearing a modern style silver satin gown and a black and white cape.
Technical and creative support
Writer: William Shakespeare
Director : Oisin Kearney
Set and Costume Design : Niall McKeever
Script Adaptor : Michael Patrick and Oisin Kearney
Lighting Designer : Jonathan M.Daley
Sound Designer & Composer: Katie Richardson
Percussion Director: Austin Gallagher
Fight Director: Phillip Rafferty
Executive Producer : Jimmy Fay
Costume Manager: Catherine Kodicek
There are many more people who provide technical and creative support for the production and sponsors, and these are listed in the excellent programme for the show.
