Richard's vanity threatens to divide the great houses of England and drag his people into a dynastic civil war that will last 100 years
Richard II
Theater

royal shakespeare company presents
Gregory Doran's thrilling production of Shakespeare's Richard III featuring Arthur Hughes. ''Now is the winter of our discontent '' ( Act 1, Scene 1). In the aftermath of the bloody Wars of the Roses, the amoral and narcissistic Duke of Gloucester begins his ruthless climb to power. Through blood, terror, and tyranny, he claims the crown as King Richard III. Dead-eyed and murderous, Arthur Hughes (The Innocents, Help) gives an exceptional performance as Shakespeare's most evil villain, Richard III. Gregory Doran's production is a beautiful traditional staging of this historical tale featuring moody sets designed by Stephen Brimson Lewis. Leaning into every fiendishly dark detail, Doran still manages to eke out brilliant bits of humor.
“Arthur Hughes made theatrical history as the first disabled actor to play Richard III for the Royal Shakespeare Company, infusing Shakespeare's most infamous villain with dark humor and genuine menace. Director Gregory Doran leans into every fiendishly dark detail of the plot while drawing out flashes of pitch-black comedy, a production that is as unsettling as it is darkly entertaining.”
— Marquee TV Content Curator