Richard II @ Royal Shakespeare Theatre

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by Bryony Harrison (subscribe)

Freelance writer and poet from London; if you would like to read my poetry, please check out my book, 'Poems on the Page', available from goo.gl/Ta4oAX.

Event: 10/10/2013 - 16/11/2013

The Doctor Becomes Royalty

He's been a doctor, a prince, and now a king; David Tennant is certainly moving up in the world. In a brand new production by the Royal Shakespeare Company, Tennant will play the starring role in Shakespeare's Richard II.

Richard is a king ordained by God, but he is also a man of very human weakness. A man whose vanity threatens to divide the great houses of England and drag his people into a dynastic and bloody civil war. See the last two years of this 14th century king's life. The slippery slope of his demise starts when he is made judge for the trial against Thomas Mowbray and Henry Bolingbroke. His decision to send them into exile could well be his downfall, when Henry secretly returns to usurp the throne.

David Tennant joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2007, making his first debut alongside Patrick Stewart in the BBC production of Hamlet. Hamlet is my favourite Shakespeare play, and with Tennant and Stewart in the mix, I was looking forward to seeing it. I was disappointed, however, because they took such a modern slant on the show. Using Shakespearean speech, but wearing suits and ties really didn't work for me. I hope in Richard II things are different, but the promotional poster has me worried.

There are two performances scheduled. One at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre at Stratford-Upon-Avon between the 10th October - 16th November, then over Christmas at the London's Barbican Centre between 9th December - 25th January.

Tickets to the three-hour performance costs between £10-£50; on the 11th December there will also be a pre-show director's talk with Gregory Doran, which can be booked for £5, and a free post-talk on the 8th January.