Richard III Insight Pack
Written by Jim Broughton, Allie Spencer and Julian Ollive. Compiled by Allie Spencer
Contents:
Cast and creative team - Set design – Summary - characters - Comparison of text - Focus on the Princes –
themes and rivalries - Workshop activities - Useful links
Cast and Creative Team
Richard III
IAN BARTHOLOMEW
Stanley
PAUL SLACK
Buckingham
MILO TWOMEY
Queen Elizabeth
SIOBHAN McCARTHY
Edward / Catesby
TIM CHIPPING
Rivers / Brackenbury
JIM CREIGHTON
Murderer 2 / Lord Grey / Mayor
SAM OATLEY
Duchess of York
JOAN MOON
Lady Anne / Mistress Shore
NATALIE BURT
Dorset / Richmond
NYASHA HATENDI
Murderer 1 / Ratcliffe
SEAN JACKSON
Hastings
PAUL GREENWOOD
Clarence
CHARLES DAISH
Director
LOVEDAY INGRAM
Designer
SIMON HIGLETT
Lighting Designer
MARK JONATHAN
Composer
STEVEN EDIS
Projection Designer
WILLIAM SIMPSON
Sound Designer
DREW BAUMOHL
Fight Director
TERRY KING
Deputy Stage Manager
ELEANOR DIXON
Synopsis of Richard the Third by J. Rowland Broughton
It does not matter from which perspective one approaches this play, it is about the pursuit of
power and takes place after a long Civil War between the Ducal Houses of York and Lancaster.
Under Edward IV England had lived through a period of peace controlled by the House of York,
but Edward IV’s younger brother Richard of Gloucester is a malicious and power-driven
individual who resents his brother’s power. Richard, deformed and bitter about his physical
restrictions begins to plot his own pathway to the Throne of England and decides that if he is to
become King, he must remove all of the obstacles that bar his path.
He tricks the Lady Anne into marrying him even though it was he who murdered her first
husband. He has his brother George Duke of Clarence executed and places the burden of guilt
on the sick and dying Edward IV.
When Edward dies Richard becomes Lord Protector of England until the young King Edward V is
of age. All of Queen Elizabeth’s relatives are arrested and those who support the young king
are killed. The young male members of Edward IV’s family are imprisoned in the Tower of
London and Queen Elizabeth flees to the sanctuary of Westminster Abbey with her daughters.
The King Edward V and his brother (The Princes in the Tower) are murdered and by this time
the population of the country now fear and loath Richard who has become King. Even the Duke
of Buckingham (known as the King Maker) has turned against him.
Richard attempts to marry Elizabeth, his niece, but Queen Elizabeth manages to forestall his
advances and arranges for Elizabeth to be betrothed to Henry Duke of Richmond instead.
Richmond finally invades England and defeats Richard at the Battle of Bosworth Field and
Richmond is crowned King Henry VII of England.
Themes and Rivalries in Richard III
The main theme of the play is that of the individuals thirst for advancement. In reality there are
few indications of there being any elements of loyalty or dedication to a single person or to a
king or indeed a God; the play simply documents how all of the players set about doing what is
in their own best interests and if that means changing sides once in a while, then that is what
they do. There are numerous bands of rivalries within the play:a) The main rivalry being that between the Houses of Lancaster and York.
b) There is the sibling rivalry between the three brothers - Edward IV, George Duke of
Clarence and Richard Duke of Gloucester later Richard III
c) There is Religious rivalry between Bourchier, Rotherham and Morton.
d) There is courtly rivalry that knows no boundaries such as that between Buckingham and
Stanley.
e) There is even a feminine rivalry that pervades all of the surviving generations of both
the House of York and the House of Lancaster.
Set Design by Simon Higlett
Insight into the characters behind the play by J.Rowland Broughton
Is this pure History?
This is a play that was written to entertain the people of its time. The fact that it has survived
the ravages of the succeeding centuries is a tribute to the skill dedication of its author. Many
people have over the intervening years have criticised it as being factually incorrect in some of
its details and many have tried to cast doubt on the subject of its author. Is it pure history? The
answer has to be ‘No!’ It was written to entertain and at times to do that it is necessary to
change some of the detail.
Edward IV
Edward IV was a distant cousin of Henry VI and was to all intents and purposes the son of
Richard Duke of York and Cecily Neville. He was born into the power struggle that is called ‘The
War of the Roses’ a war that was not about great principles, nor one that was fought to apply
great religious supremacy, it was simply a struggle of one family or House to grab power and
retain it for purely dynastic reasons. Edward was a member of the House of York and was King
of England from 1461 to 1470 and again from 1471 to 1483. In the intervening period the
throne of England was held by Henry VI, a Lancastrian who was temperamentally unfit to be a
King because he was very religious and he was mentally unstable.
Edward IV was a very tall and handsome man who had a ferocious temper and a tendency to
chase any woman who caught his eye. He was in every sense of the word ’a lecher’. He was
married in secret to Elizabeth Woodville a strikingly beautiful young widow and it was only
when Parliament started to press him to marry that he confessed that that he was already
married. But there was a serious problem for Elizabeth, for she was not only considered to be
below his status, she was also of Lancastrian stock.
Research concluded in 2004 claims that Edward IV was illegitimate because Cecily Neville could
not have conceived him in wedlock for the simple reason that her husband was away from
England at the appropriate time. This is also underlined by the fact that Edward bore no
physical resemblance to the man who was claimed to be his father. When Edward married
Elizabeth Woodville, Cecily Neville was furious and she repeatedly declared that Edward was a
bastard even when it was at the expense of her reputation. This is one explanation as to why
Richard III was so quick to assume the throne, and why he swept aside Edward’s sons who
would have had no claim to the throne if their father was illegitimate.
As stated above, Edward IV had two periods as King and it was only after the Battle of
Tewkesbury in 1471 that Edward was able to claim the throne for himself. Generally speaking
Edward was a ruthless individual who was full of energy and truly a warrior King, for no sooner
had the peace in England been settled then he invaded France. Edward died in 1483 and is
buried in St Georges Chapel Windsor. His remains have been removed, desecrated, buried and
reburied on at least three occasions and the monument in St Georges Chapel was built during
the 18th Century to mark the approximate site.
Edward V. (Edward Prince of Wales)
Edward V was the son of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville but he was never crowned King of
England. At the time of his father’s death he was 12 years old and living in Ludlow Castle.
Arrangements were made for him to travel down to London, and in keeping with tradition he
was considered to be King as soon as his father was pronounced dead. Elizabeth Woodville, the
Queen Mother demanded an army to escort the young King to his capital, but her demands
were ignored and her fears about his safety proved to be correct. As soon as Edward reached
London, Richard Duke of Gloucester arrested all of the young King’s Woodville relations and
had the boy detained in the Tower of London. His mother fled with her other children to the
sanctuary of Westminster Abbey. The Duke of Gloucester with the connivance of Archbishop
Bourchier demanded that the younger brother Richard should be sent to join the King in the
Tower. Elizabeth never saw her sons again. About two centuries later some bones were found
in the Tower of London and they were buried with due ceremony in Westminster Abbey.
Richard, Duke of Gloucester later King Richard III of England (1483 to 1485)
Richard of Gloucester was the brother of Edward IV and George Duke of Clarence, all of whom
were the sons of Richard Duke of York and Cecily Neville. According to some accounts Richard
was born with a full head of hair and a full set of teeth and according to Shakespeare “To
signify that thou cam’st to bite the world….’
During the reign of his brother, Richard was a tower of strength, governing the North of
England for his brother and maintaining the peace. He was cased in York where he was well
respected and loved by the people, a reputation that he never lost during the course of his life.
Like all of the people who usurp the throne Richard had many enemies, the most prominent of
whom was the Duke of Buckingham, a former friend and ally. Richard had Buckingham
beheaded after he defeated him at the Battle of Salisbury. This revolt against the crown made
Richard aware that many of the English Magnates were looking to Henry Tudor as their future
leader. As is well documented Richard and Henry met at the Battle of Bosworth Field where the
tide of battle was turned by the decision of the Stanleys to support Henry rather than to follow
Richard. Whether the crown was found in a Hawthorne Bush and whether or not Stanley
crowned Henry Tudor on the field of battle is a matter for conjecture. According to reports
Richard’s body was thrown across a horse and carried into Leicester where a ‘crude burial’ was
performed. As has lately transpired this may well be true, following the discovery of the bones
under a Leicester Car Park. All scientific evidence seems to indicate that these are indeed the
bones of Richard III.
Richard has always been defamed as a tyrant and a child murderer, but one must be aware that
the History is always written by the victors and as such is always recorded in a way that places
the winners in the best possible light. The truth is that he was probably no better and no worse
than all of the other people who were vying for the Throne of England at that time. It is
certainly a fact that both of his brothers were ruthless and without pity in their pursuit of
power. The fact that Richard was ugly and also had a physical deformity lent credence to his
being considered a cruel and dangerous man by the accepted judgements of his time. As to
whether or not he killed or ordered the deaths of the Princes in the Tower will never be known,
but this kind of action hardly matches up with the love and faith that the people of the North of
England showed him throughout his life.
In Sir Thomas More’s narrative Richard presents himself to the world as a kind of divine saviour
sent out of heaven into a vicious world for the amendment of man manners:
‘Richard the third whom we now entreat was in wit and courage equal to either of them (his
brothers): in body and prowess far below them both: Little of stature, ill-featured of limbs,
crook backed, his left shoulder much higher that his right, hard favoured (ugly) of visage and as
such as in stakes called warly (warlike). He was malicious, wrathful, envious and from afore his
birth ever forward (perverse).’ The History of Richard III’ By Sir Thomas More P8
George, Duke of Clarence
George Plantagenet was born in Dublin on 21st October 1449, the son of Richard Duke of York
and Cecily Neville. He was the brother of two men who would both become the King of England
.i.e. Edward IV and Richard III. On the accession of Edward IV, Clarence was appointed Steward
for the Coronation along with Lord Wenloke acting as his mentor. Because Clarence’s title did
not derive from a Shire or a Hundred he had to receive his finances from the Exchequer. In the
case of Clarence, his dues were usually collected by either John Kendall or John Peke both of
whom were attorneys who acted for the Duke. Peke was to be a life-long servant of the House
of York and of Clarence in particular. George, Duke of Clarence was not a stable person- he had
vast changes of mood and loyalty. Like both of his brothers, Clarence had a thirst for power
that at times proved to be almost suicidal. Finally after two revolts against the crown during the
reign of Edward IV he was sentenced to death for treason, and rumour has it that he was
drowned in a vat of Malmsey Wine. The truth of this has not and cannot be verified but there
are records that indicate that where bodies had to be transported over long distances from the
place of death, to where they were to be interred they were indeed immersed in a barrel of
either wine or spirit for the journey because it reduced the rate of decomposition and the
attendant smell!
Henry, Earl of Richmond later Henry VII (28th Jan 1457 to 21st April 1509)
Henry’s mother was Margaret Beaufort, who was only thirteen when she gave birth to him but
by the time Henry was born she was already a widow. Henry’s father died as a prisoner of the
Yorkists. Margaret was a direct descendent of John of Gaunt who was Duke of Lancaster. So
Henry never knew his father but what was drilled into him was the fact that he was the head of
the House of Lancaster, and as such he was the person to whom the enemies of the Yorkists
would look to lead any opposition to them. For fourteen years Henry lived in exile in Brittany
waiting for a chance to return to claim his Kingdom, for he believed that he was the true King of
England because the sons of Edward IV were not legitimate sons and therefore not heirs.
The Battle of Bosworth Field was a great turning point in the History of England for it ended the
‘War of the Roses’. His marriage to Elizabeth of York united the Houses of York and Lancaster
under the emblem of the Tudor Rose. Henry VII was seen as being a dull King but he
demonstrated that kingship requires both dedication and hard work. Henry was devoted to his
young wife who was ten years his junior and bore him two sons. She died in childbirth one year
after the death of her eldest son Arthur. This left just one son the one who was to become
Henry VIII.
Henry VII was distraught at the death of his young queen and his eldest son and the
bereavement prematurely aged him and he died aged fifty-two.
Elizabeth Woodville, Queen to Edward IV
The story of Elizabeth Woodville’s first meeting with Edward IV is the stuff of legend. At that
time she was the beautiful young widow of Sir John Grey of Groby and was seeking to have
some of his land restored to her and her family. She is reputed to have accosted Edward on the
highway outside the village in which she was living and he was smitten by her beauty and they
were married in great secrecy at Grafton in Northamptonshire.
When the secret came out they bravely had to face the country and the Parliament because
most of the people concerned thought that Elizabeth was not of the right class to marry the
King. Elizabeth bore Edward ten healthy children* but she was intensely disliked by Richard of
Gloucester, Edward’s brother, who believed that she was an upstart.
When Edward died Gloucester lost no time in placing Elizabeth’s sons Edward the uncrowned
king and his brother Richard in the Tower of Londo, and declared Elizabeth’s marriage to his
brother as being illegal, thus making all of her children illegitimate. She fled to the sanctuary of
Westminster Abbey with the rest of her children but she never saw her two sons again. For two
years she lived under the name of Dame Grey trying to hide her humiliation.
Richard’s defeat at the Battle of Bosworth Field was a great relief to her as her land and her
dignity were restored to her, and one of her daughters Elizabeth of York became Henry VII’s
bride.
*Within Shakespeare’s play only three children are referred to. You can find out more about
Elizabeth Woodville in Philippa Gregory‘s bestselling historical novel The White Queen or the
BBC’s successful adaptation of the same name.
Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham
Born 14th September 1455 and Died 2nd November 1483.
As with many of the magnates of this period, Henry Stafford was a ruthless pursuer of power
and although his own claim to the throne of England was tenuous, he played the role of ‘King
Maker’ for both Richard III and Henry VII.
He was the son of Humphrey Stafford and Margaret Beaufort ,so through the Beaufort and the
Stafford Lines he was related to most of the claimants to the English throne. His father was
killed at the Battle of St Albans in 1458 and his grandfather died at the Battle of Northampton
in 1460, both fighting for the Lancastrian cause. This made the young Henry the Duke of
Buckingham and he was made the ward of Elizabeth Woodville the Queen to Edward IV.
When Edward IV died in 1483, the Woodvilles were in open conflict with Richard, Duke of
Gloucester over the guardianship of the 12 year old King Edward V. Buckingham sided with
Gloucester and they were together when Gloucester took charge of the young King at Stoney
Stratford in April 1483. Parliament subsequently declared that the young King Edward was
illegitimate and offered the throne to Richard of Gloucester (Richard III).
There has always been a question mark over Buckingham’s involvement in the disappearance
of the Princes in the Tower. If Richard was responsible for the deaths of the Princes this may
have been a reason for Buckingham changing sides because, however tenuous it may have
been, Buckingham had a claim to the throne and this might have been a way of strengthening
the claim of the Beaufort line.
There are documents in the College of Arms Collection that say the Princes were murdered ‘be
the vise’ of the Duke of Buckingham. It is not clear if ‘vise’ means the advice or the devise of
Buckingham. If Buckingham did have the children murdered and placed the blame on Richard III
he could have laid claim to the throne with only Henry Tudor in opposition.* Buckingham was
one of the leaders of the rebellion against Richard III in 1483 and when it was ignominiously put
down, Buckingham was executed.
*In Shakespeare’s version Richard III and Buckingham plot together to kill the young princes.
Cardinal Thomas Bourchier. Archbishop of Canterbury
Thomas Bourchier was born in 1404, the youngest son of William Count of Eu in Normandy.
Through his mother’s line he was a great grandson of Edward III, King of England. He was
educated at Oxford University and in 1434 he became the Bishop of Worcester. He finally
became Archbishop of Canterbury in 1454 and one year later he was appointed Lord Chancellor
of England. It was Thomas Bourchier who crowned Edward IV in 1461 and his wife Elizabeth as
Queen in 1465. When Edward IV died it was Bourchier who persuaded Elizabeth to allow
Richard of York to join his brother and share his residence in the Tower Of London. He crowned
Richard III as King in July 1483. He also crowned Henry VII in January 1486. Thomas Bourchier
died on 30th March 1486 and is buried in Canterbury Cathedral.
Thomas Rotherham, Archbishop of York
Thomas was born on 23rd August 1423 in Brookgate, Rotherham, Yorkshire. He was initially
educated at home by Private Tutor before going to Eton College and then on to Kings College
Cambridge where he obtained a Bachelor of Divinity. He became a teaching Fellow of the
College at a later date. In 1468 he was created Bishop of Rochester and in 1472 he became
Bishop of Lincoln, and he was Archbishop of York from 1480 to 1500. Rotherham was a staunch
supporter of the Yorkist cause and supported Elizabeth Woodville in her attempts to keep her
two sons out of the clutches of Richard, Duke of Gloucester.
Thomas died a victim of the plague at Cawood Yorkshire on 29th May 1500, and was buried in
the church there, however he was exhumed and reburied in York Minster in 1506.
Duke of Norfolk
John Howard was the First Duke of Norfolk . He was born in 1425 and died before Richard III at
the Battle of Bosworth Field on 22nd August 1485. He had been a staunch adherent to the
House of York during the War of the Rose,s and was knighted by Edward IV after the Battle of
Towton on the 26th March 1461. He was made Constable of Norwich and Colchester Castles. He
was made a Knight of the Garter in 1472. He bore the Banner at the Funeral of Edward IV and
the Crown of State at the Coronation of Richard III, at which his son bore the Sword of State.
John Howard died at the battle of Bosworth Field having led the vanguard of Richard’s Army
and was killed by receiving an arrow in his face while his visor was up. His death was said to
have completely demoralised Richard III and he died soon after his long-time friend. Howard
was buried in Thetford Priory but moved to Framlington Church during the Reformation.
John de Vere 13th Earl of Oxford
John was born on 8th September 1442 and died on 10th March 1513. Oxford was one of the
principle commanders of the Lancastrian Army during the ‘War of the Roses’. In February 1462
the 12th Earl and his eldest son Aubrey de Vere were convicted of high treason, and the Earl
was beheaded on Tower Hill on 26th February 1462 only six days after his son had been
executed on the same scaffold.
King Edward IV allowed John de Vere to succeed to his father’s title and granted him a licence
to enter his lands on18th January 1464. Having been fairly treated by the House of York and
serving Edward in many capacities in 1468, he was committed to the Tower of London having
confessed to plotting with the Lancastrians against the King. For this he received a Royal
Pardon on 5th April 1469. However by July of that same year he had joined his brother in law
the Earl of Warwick and the King’s brother the Duke of Clarence for the Edge Hill Campaign.
After the failure of this attempt to overthrow Edward IV he fled to the court of Margaret of
Anjou, and only returned to England with Warwick and Clarence in the campaign that restored
Henry VI to the throne of England. Oxford finally had revenge for the deaths of his father and
brother when as Constable of England he tried and condemned the man who had sentenced
them to death. In March 1471 he prevented Edward IV’s army from landing in Norfolk, however
after many victories and reversals Oxford finally had to flee to the safety of Scotland. Although
Oxford was not detained, his lands in England were confiscated and his wife was subjected to
great hardship. In May 1473 Oxford attempted a landing on the coast of Essex but failed and
returned in September of that year to seize St Michael’s Mount, where he was besieged until
he surrendered wounded in February 1474. At this time his wife had to surrender all of their
property to Richard of Gloucester. Oxford, along with his brothers and Viscount Beaumont,
was imprisoned in Hammes Castle near Calais. In 1478 Oxford scaled the walls and leapt into
the moat. It is not clear whether this was really an attempted escape or an attempted suicide.
He was ordered to be transferred to England but before this could be accomplished he
escaped, it is believed with the assistance of Sir James Blount, the Captain of Calais. Henry Duke
of Richmond is said to have been overjoyed by these events. Oxford commanded Richmond’s
Archers at the Battle of Bosworth and formed Richmond vanguard in the fierce fighting that led
up to the death of Richard III. Oxford was one of the great men of Henry VII’s Court, all of his
lands and Titles were restored to him and he was Appointed Steward of the Duchy of Lancaster
South of the Trent. He was the God-Father of Henry VII’s eldest son ,Arthur Prince of Wales; he
was appointed Hereditary Lord Great Chamberlain of England. Oxford survived his King and
remained in office under King Henry VIII. He died at Castle Hedingham on 10th March 1513 and
is buried at Colne Priory.
Thomas Grey, The Marquis of Dorset
The son of Elizabeth Woodville by her first husband Sir John Grey. Elizabeth became Queen of
England just before Thomas was ten years old, his father having been killed at the second
Battle of St Albans in 1461 fighting for the Lancastrian Army against the Crown. He married
firstly Anne Holland the daughter of the Duke of Exeter who died in 1474, and secondly Cecily
Bonville through whom he became one of the richest men in England. Grey was created
Marquis of Dorset. Dorset is believed to have played a role in the execution of the Duke of
Clarence in 1478. Dorset was a man of good fortune; he survived the tyranny of Richard III and
the wrath of Henry VII and died a wealthy man in 1501.
Lord Grey.
The younger son of Elizabeth Woodville and her first husband
William Hastings
Born 1431 Died 13 June 1483.
William was the eldest son of Sir Leonard Hastings and succeeded his father in the service of
the House of York, where he became a close friend of Edward IV who he served all of his life.
He fought along-side Edward at the Battle of Mortimer’s Cross and was present when Edward
was proclaimed King of England. Hastings was a prominent man in the Court of the King and
was made Baron Hastings, a title that included a large grant of land and national offices. He
married Katherine Neville the widowed sister of the Earl of Warwick by whom he had four sons
and two daughters. When Warwick forced Edward IV into exile, Hastings went with him and
was also with the King on his return the following spring. Hastings raised troops for Edward
from his power base in the Midlands and served as one of the Yorkist Captains at the battles of
Barnet and Tewkesbury. In second part of Edward IV’s reign Hastings was an even more
important figure than he had previously been, he continued to serve as Chancellor and was
appointed to be Lieutenant of Calais.
After the death of Edward IV, Hastings was a key figure in checking the dowager queen’s
attempts to monopolize political power by appointing members of the Woodville family into
key positions in the country. However on 13th June 1483 Richard Duke of Gloucester with the
support of the Duke of Buckingham accused Hastings of having conspired with other members
of the council and Woodville family against the life of Gloucester. All of the other conspirators
were imprisoned excepting Hastings who was taken out into the Court Yard and beheaded.
There was no attempt to deprive the Hastings family of their lands and properties and Hastings
himself was buried in St Georges Chapel Windsor close to the man he considered to be his true
King.
Thomas Lord Stanley 1st Earl of Derby
Born 1435 Died 29th July 1504
Thomas Stanley was a landowner of immense wealth and power in the North West of England.
He was almost as strong as the Crown itself and so it was that his authority went almost
unchallenged by successive monarchs. Stanley managed to stay ahead of the game throughout
the Wars of the Roses until his death in 1504. He had managed to become attached to both
houses in the Civil War; he was married to Eleanor the daughter of the Earl of Salisbury who
was a sister of Warwick the King Maker and even when Warwick was toppled from power it did
not appear to harm Stanley, even with the House of York now occupying the throne.
Stanley’s second marriage was to Margaret Beaufort whose son Henry Tudor was head of the
house of Lancaster. Stanley was one of the first magnates to come to the aid of Henry Tudor.
The Stanley Army at the Battle of Bosworth took up a position that was independent of both
the main Armies. In true Stanley fashion he kept his powder dry taking no part in the main
action. It was not until Sir William Stanley elected to support Henry Tudor that the tide of battle
turned and gave Henry the victory. For his support Henry VII created Stanley Earl of Derby.
Thomas survived until 1504.
Francis Lovell 1st Viscount Lovell
Born 1454. Died sometime after 1488.
Francis Lovell was an English nobleman who was a friend and ally of King Richard III of England
and bore the Sword of State at Richard’s Coronation. He became Lord Chamberlain replacing
the late William Hastings. Lovell helped in the suppression of the Duke of Buckingham in 1483
after which he was made a Knight of the Garter. In June 1485 Lovell was appointed to guard the
South Coast of England against attack by Henry Tudor. However Tudor landed at Milford Haven
and whilst there is no written evidence to prove it, he is generally accepted to have fought for
Richard III at Bosworth. He escaped from the battle field and fled to sanctuary in Colchester.
Some twelve months later he fled to Yorkshire to continue the Yorkists claims to the throne.
When this attempt failed he fled to Flanders to join Margaret of York from thereon his fate is
unknown.
Sir Thomas Vaughan
Born circa 1410 Died June 1483.
Thomas Vaughan was a follower of Henry VI King of England and served in the Administration
of Welsh Affairs. However he was a Yorkist by inclination and after the victory of 1461 he
became an important servant of Edward IV. In 1455 he entered Parliament as the Member for
Marlborough. Edward trusted Vaughan with many positions and ambassadorial missions and
he was subsequently made Chamberlain to the future Edward V. He was knighted in 1475.
When Edward IV died Vaughan was instructed to accompany the young King from Ludlow to
London. When the party was intercepted by Richard Duke of Gloucester, Vaughan was arrested
and taken to Pontefract Castle where he was executed sometime between the 12th and the 25th
of June 1483.
Sir Richard Ratcliffe/Radcliffe Died 1485.
Richard Ratcliffe and his Uncle John Parr were knighted on the field of Battle at Tewkesbury.
Just before he seized power Richard of Gloucester sent Radcliffe to summon his support in the
North to come to his assistance. Ratcliffe arrived in York on the 15th and was on his way back to
the South at Pontefract by the 24th with a force of some 5000 men.
When Richard of Gloucester became King, Ratcliffe received many rewards and commissions.
Like many of Richard’s supporters he turned away from him when he heard of the Duke of
Richmond’s planned invasion. He returned to fight at the Battle of Bosworth Field on the 21st
August 1485 and was cut down whilst trying to flee the field. He was attainted at the first
Parliament of Henry VII’s reign but all of his lands were restored to his family on the petition of
his son at the Parliament of 1495.
Sir Robert Brackenbury. Erstwhile Lieutenant of the Tower of London
Brackenbury was born at Burne Hall near Barnard Castle in the County of Durham. The date of
his birth is not known. Barnard Castle had passed into the ownership of Richard, Duke of
Gloucester about 1474. Brackenbury was one of Richard’s closest associates, he was Treasurer
of Richard’s Household while he was Duke of Gloucester and he was one of his supporters who
went south to London with Richard. After the collapse of the Buckingham Revolt, Brackenbury
was granted large areas of land that had formerly belonged to the Rivers and Cheney families.
In 1484 he was appointed Sheriff of Kent and he was made Master of the Rolls after the
execution of William Hastings. Sometime between August 1484 and January 1485 he was
knighted. As Constable of the Tower he must be considered when the fate of the young Princes
is discussed. It is written in Thomas More’s version of the life of Richard III that after his
Coronation ,Richard sent John Green to Brackenbury with written orders for Brackenbury to kill
the Princes. Brackenbury is reported to have said that he would never have put them to death
even if the refusal resulted in his own death. So, Richard ordered Sir James Tyrell to go to the
Tower and have the keys surrendered to him. According to Thomas More’s account ‘Gentle
Brackenbury who had meekly resisted the demands of the King complied.’ In 1485 Brackenbury
was ordered to escort Hungerford and Bourchier to Leicester but they escaped from him. When
Richard marched from Nottingham to go to fight at Bosworth, Brackenbury raced to join him
and arrived two days before the battle. It is recorded that he died fighting at the side of the
man he thought was his true King.
William Catesby Esquire
Died 1485
Very little is known about William Catesby until after the death of Edward IV but there is one
certainty, and that is he exercised great influence over Richard III before he became King. It was
Catesby who tried to ascertain which way Hastings reacted in the fighting. But record has it the
Hastings reacted with such venom that Catesby saw immediately that their cause was hopeless.
It was a mission that ultimately benefitted Catesby for immediately after his accession Richard
granted Catesby all of the offices that Hastings had previously held, including Chancellor of the
Exchequer and on the same day (30th June 1483) he was also made Chancellor of the Earldom
of March for his lifetime. On the following day Catesby was elected Speaker of the House in the
only Parliament that was held during the reign of Richard III. On the 22nd August 1485 when
Richard was defeated at the Battle of Bosworth Field Catesby was taken prisoner by
Richmond’s Army. He was beheaded three days later at Leicester.
Sir James Tyrrell
Died 1502
Tyrrell was knighted after the battle of Tewesbury 1471 However he is most well known for
being the one who is said to have murdered the Princes in the Tower when Brackenbury
refused to do it. He fought under Richard in the Scottish Campaign of 1482 and accounts of
what did, and did not happen in respect of the disappearance of the Princes in the Tower leave
us with many unanswered questions that will I fear remain unanswered. Tyrrell appeared to
some commentators to be wavering in his support for Richard III but he was with him in Wales
and he held commands in Glamorgan and Morgannock. Henry VII despite all of his dealings
employed Tyrrell in many capacities, but he was not a stable man for his allegiances fluctuated
from one Prince to another and back. Tyrrell assisted the Earl of Suffolk in his attempt to steal
the crown and although he was forgiven, his being twice a traitor proved too much and he was
beheaded on Tower Hill in 6th May 1502. Before his execution he made a confession to having
killed the Princes in the Tower with Dighton as his accomplice. Dighton also confessed to the
crime.
Spotlight on the Princes
A large number of very talented young people auditioned for the roles of the Princes at
Nottingham Playhouse. Here’s a little bit about the actors who secured the roles of Prince
Edward and Prince Richard Duke of York, also known as The Princes in the Tower!
Jake
Role in Richard III I play Prince Edward
Previous and current Playhouse involvement
I’ve been in the Intermediate Youth Theatre since 2012 and
performed in The Playground at the NAYT’s regional festival at
Wellingborough and a Thousand Cranes in the Neville Studio.
Is this your first Shakespeare production? Yes
What excites you most about playing one of the Princes?
Being able to go out on the main stage playing such a great role.
How did you feel in your first rehearsal? I was nervous in my first rehearsal, but the other
actors were really nice and made it easy.
What's it like working with professional adult actors?
It's really great seeing them act and talking to them, they're all really nice.
What should younger audience members coming to Richard III look out for?
Look out for my character in my scene and the fight scenes!
What is your favourite moment in the play (apart from your own)? The scene of Hastings
death as his acting in it is AMAZING
Why do you think Richard III is relevant to a 21st century audience?
It will be relevant to everyone at any year because it's such a brilliant play, and teaches a lot
about some aspects of history.
What have you learnt through being involved in this production?
I've learnt a lot more in acting, as Shakespeare is the hardest type
Has this production changed your views on Shakespeare?
I've always believed Shakespeare was a brilliant playwright, this makes it even better.
Nathan
Role in Richard III: I play Prince Edward
Previous and current Playhouse involvement: I go to the
Nottingham Playhouse Intermediate Youth Theatre every
Tuesday.
Other youth theatres/drama groups attended: I am in my
school's drama academy, have been in several school
plays and I used to go to Nottingham Young Filmmakers.
Is this your first Shakespeare production? Yes, I have done several things in my school's drama
academy but never a professional production.
What excites you most about playing one of the Princes? Knowing that people my age would
have been playing the same role and saying more or less the same lines as I am today! I feel like
I am carrying on a long tradition that has been going on for hundreds of years.
How did you feel in your first rehearsal? Nervous but also very excited. I had no idea what to
expect!
What's it like working with professional adult actors? Amazing! There all such good actors and
are all really nice people. It's a bit like a gold mine of acting advice!
What should younger audience members coming to Richard III look out for? Watch out for
Ian Bartholomew playing Richard III, he has the funniest scenes and lines. He is also a very
funny man in real life.
What is your favourite moment in the play (apart from your own)? Definitely Hastings’ death
scene (very emotional) and the battle scene at the end which is very well choreographed.
Why do you think Richard III is relevant to a 21st century audience? I think it is a great play to
watch mainly because they have just found Richard III's body under a car park in Leicester. It
also teaches us a lot about people's greed and lust for power which is quite relevant in this day
and age.
What have you learnt through being involved in this production? It has really given me a
boost in confidence and has taught me how to pronounce words better - especially because
some of the lines are real tongue twisters!
Has this production changed your views on Shakespeare? Definitely! I used to think
Shakespeare was moderately easy, how wrong was I! Shakespearean acting
is definitely the hardest.
Oran
Role in Richard III I play Prince Richard Duke of York
Previous and current Playhouse involvement
I recently joined the junior youth theatre group at the
Playhouse.
Other youth theatres/drama groups attended
I go to a local drama group every Saturday and I do
speech and drama with Mrs Sally Ashworth twice a
week at school.
Is this your first Shakespeare production? This is my first Shakespeare production.
What excites you most about playing one of the Princes? I am really excited because it’s my
first professional production in front of a big audience.
How did you feel in your first rehearsal? I felt nervous going to my first rehearsal as I was
meeting loads of new people that I had never met before, but I soon relaxed as the cast made
us laugh by playing practical jokes and messing about!
What's it like working with professional adult actors? I love watching the professional actors
while they are rehearsing as I learn a lot from them, and I didn’t realise how much hard work
goes into putting on a play.
What should younger audience members coming to Richard III look out for? Younger
audience members should look out for drama, funny moments, clever ideas to do with the set,
and brilliant acting!
What is your favourite moment in the play (apart from your own)? My favourite part of the
play is the fight scene, it’s AMAZING!
Why do you think Richard III is relevant to a 21st century audience? The body of the real
Richard III has recently been found and by watching the play it brings the story to life.
What have you learnt through being involved in this production? I have learned by working
on the play that it is hard work, there are lots of rehearsals and a lot of time goes into making
the production a success.
Has this production changed your views on Shakespeare? I like Shakespeare and the language
is easier to understand than you think.
Patrick
Role in Richard III – I play Prince Richard, Duke of York
Previous and current Playhouse involvement Playhouse Summer School (Kisses on a Postcard, Mix
Up by Moonlight), Advanced Youth Theatre (Loneliness
of a Long Distance Runner) and Critics' Circle
Other youth theatres/drama groups attended National Youth Music Theatre (2012 & 2013), Steep
Turnpike Youth Theatre and RAMA Young Actors.
Is this your first Shakespeare production? –
No. I have played the same role in a production of Richard III by Big Adventures Theatre
Company (but set in the twentieth century). I also played the son of Macduff for a production
of Macbeth by Shakespeare 4 Kidz and Jack Rugby in a production of Merry Wives of Windsor
by Big Adventures Theatre Company. Both The Dreaming (NYMT) and Mix Up By Moonlight
(Summer School) were based on A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I also had a role in an amateur
production of Julius Caesar.
What excites you most about playing one of the Princes? - I like the fact that they get
murdered!!
How did you feel in your first rehearsal? - Slightly nervous, but very excited.
What's it like working with professional adult actors? - It's great. I feel like I can learn a lot
from them. They have all been really helpful.
What should younger audience members coming to Richard III look out for? - Older children
and young adults should look to relate the story to the politics of today!
What is your favourite moment in the play (apart from your own)? - The sword fighting near
the end :)
Why do you think Richard III is relevant to a 21st century audience? - Because it shows how
greed can lead to corruption.
What have you learnt through being involved in this production? - I have learnt more about
the flow of Shakespeare's language which has increased my confidence when working on a
Shakespeare text.
Has this production changed your views on Shakespeare? - Not really as I already enjoyed
Shakespeare, but it's been interesting to see it being put together in a different way.
Luke
Role in Richard III I play Prince Richard Duke of York
Previous and current Playhouse involvement
I’ve been involved with both the Intermediate Youth
theatre and the 2013 Summer School Mix Up by
Moonlight
Is this your first Shakespeare production? I have done
two different re-makes of A Midsummer night s dream
What excites you most about playing one of the Princes? The fact that I will be working with
professional actor with much experience
How did you feel in your first rehearsal? Very excited, the other actors made me feel very
welcomed in the environment that i was in
What's it like working with professional adult actors? They are a really funny and very friendly
group of people who help me with whatever I need when I am acting!!
What should younger audience members coming to Richard III look out for? The incredibly
choreographed fight scenes!!
What is your favourite moment in the play (apart from your own)? They are all incredible,
however if I needed to pick on it would be when Hastings gives a speech after Richard says 'off
with his head', it really scared me and I was very moved.
Why do you think Richard III is relevant to a 21st
century audience? Because the principles of greed are
still around now, it is a bad thing yet it is still happening
and it will always be happening. It is in our nature.
What have you learnt through being involved in this
production? I have learnt about which word to
emphasize at what time in Shakespeare as it is much
more different that normal speech.
Has this production changed your views on
Shakespeare? I have always thought that Shakespeare
was an incredible writer and this had made me think
that he is even better!
Why I like Richard III?
Nottingham Playhouse Youth Theatre are focusing on Richard III
during half term producing their own theatrical responses to the play.
Alix Manning- Jones is part of the directing team. As a Shakespeare
specialist she explains why she likes Richard III so much….
“Richard III is one of the early plays Shakespeare wrote, in which he
had great fun in creating Richard as a villain. It’s also the only
Shakespeare play where the title character is on stage in every act, which allows the fascinating
relationship between Richard and his audience. It’s a brilliant story for young people to explore
the possibilities Shakespeare gives us with Richard’s character and the imagery available in
finding their own interpretation of Richard and what really drives him. The relevance of Richard
today is for me; is that Richard could be anyone. He could be any of us: the idea of wanting,
then wanting more but never being satisfied, the feeling of not being happy runs through the
play. Richard is full of charm, humour, ambition and ruthlessness surrounded by the incredible
strong female figures; seeking the power and control, whilst still fighting with the
unacceptability he has always faced.” Alix Manning-Jones
Alix works as a freelance Education Practitioner and Young People’s Project Producer delivering
workshops for Primary & Secondary Schools, Colleges, Youth Theatres & learning centres. Alix
works as an Education Associate Practitioner for the Royal Shakespeare Company and as well
as Nottingham Playhouse. Alix has also worked for the the Playhouse Education Company at
the Birmingham Rep and is currently producing a Young People’s Project for the First World
War Centenary in collaboration with the National Theatre UK Tour production of War Horse.
Elements for Further Study
King Richard III Edited by Anthony Hammond 1981. The Arden Shakespeare
The History of King Richard III by Sir Thomas More Edited by Richard S Sylvester
Kings, Queens, Bones & Bastards by David Hilliam.
False, Fleeting, Perjur’d Clarence ( George Duke of Clarence 1449-78) by Michael Hicks
Richard III ‘The New Shakespeare CUP 1970 by John Dover Wilson.
The Killing of Richard III by Robert Farrington Sphere Books 2013
The Life and Times of Richard III By Antony Cheetham BCA 1972
Medieval Costume, Armour and Weapons by Eduard Wagner Dover Publication 2000
Medieval Warfare by Jim Bradbury Routledge 2004
The Great War Bow By Strickland and Hardy Sutton Publishing 2005
Changes and Omissions by J.Rowland Broughton
Anybody who has made a study of the plays of Shakespeare will be aware of the fact that there
has always been more than one version of the script of Richard III. Even in its earliest
productions there were always constraints on how one could produce a play. It is well known
that the play when produced in London was a comprehensive production with all of the parts
cast and played. But once the play became a ‘touring production’ then the cost of hauling vast
quantities of actors and weapons and props became a significant problem. So we can see
clearly that the costs of production were equally as important in Shakespeare’s day as they are
now. So there were at least two versions of this script and while we are not aware of just how
much they varied we are aware that a London Version and a Touring Version of the play existed
from early times. So that you have some idea of how the reduction of dialogue is undertaken,
here is Act IV Scene IV from the current adaptation set against the Arden Version of the Richard
III script.
ACT IV Scene IV.
Arden Version showing the omitted lines in RED.
ACT IV
SCENE IV Lines 1 to 115 inclusive.
Enter Old QUEEN MARGARET
MARGARET
So now prosperity begins to mellow.
And drop into the rotten mouth of death.
Here in these confines slily have I lurk’d
To watch the waning of mine enemies.
A dire induction am I witness to,
And will to France, hoping the consequence
Will prove as bitter, black, and tragical
Enter QUEEN ELIZABETH and the DUCHESS OF YORK.
Withdraw thee, wretched Margaret: who comes here?
QUEEN ELIZABETH
Ah, my poor princes! Ah, my tender babes,
My unblow’d flowers, new appearing sweets!
If yet your gentle souls fly in the air,
And be not fix’d in the doom perpetual,
Hover about me with your airy wings,
And hear your mothers lamentation.
MARGARET
[Aside] Hover about her; say that right for right
Hath dimm’d your infant morn ti aged night.
DUCHESS OF YORK
So many miseries have craz’d my voice
That my woe-wearied tongue is still and mute.
Edward Plantagenet why art thou dead?
MARGARET
[Aside] When holy Harry died, and my sweet son.
DUCHESS OF YORK
Dead life, Blind sight, poor mortal living ghost
Woe’s scene, worlds shame, grave’s due by life usurp’d;
Brief abstract and record of tedious days,
[Sitting] Rest thy unrest on England’s lawful earth,
Unlawfully made drunk with innocent blood.
QUEEN ELIZABETH
Ah, that thou wouldst as soon afford a grave
As thou canst yield a melancholy seat,
Then would I hide my bones, not rest them here
[Sitting] Ah, who hath any cause to mourn but we?
MARGARET
If ancient sorrow be mist reverend
Give mine the benefit of seigniory,
And let my griefs frown on the upper hand.
If sorrow can admit society,
Tell o’er your woes again by viewing mine.
I had an Edward, till a Richard kill’d him;
I had a husband till a Richard kill’d him:
Thou hadst an Edward, till a Richard kill’d him;
Thou hadst a Richard till a Richard kill’d him.
DUCHESS OF YORK
I had a Richard too, and thou didst kill him;
I had a Rutland too: thou help’st to kill him.
MARGARET
Thou hadst a Clarence too, and Richard kill’d him.
From forth the kennel of thy womb hath crept
A hell-hound that doth hunt us all to death:
That dog, that had his teeth before his eyes,
To worry lambs and lap their gentle blood;
That excellent grand tyrant of the earth,
That reigns in galled eyes of weeping souls;
That foul defacer of Gods handiwork
Thy womb let loose to chase us to our graves.
O upright, just and true-disposing God!
How do I thank thee that this carnal cur
Preys on the tissues of his mother’s body
And makes her pew-fellow with other’s moan.
DUCHESS OF YORK .
O, Harry’s wife, triumph not in my woes.
God witness me, I have wept for thine.
MARGARET`
Bear with me: I am hungry for revenge,
And now I cloyme with beholding it.
Thy Edward he is dead, that kill’d my Edward;
Thy other Edward dead, to quit my Edward;
Young York, he is but boot, because both they
Match’d not the high perfection of my loss.
Thy Clarence he is dead, that stabbed my Edward;
And the beholders of this frantic play,
Th’ adulterate Hastings, Rivers, Vaughan , Grey,
Untimely smother’d in their dusky graves.
Yet Richard lives, hells black intelligencer,
Only reserv’d their factor to buy souls
And send them hither. But at hand, at hand
Ensues his piteous and unpitied end.
Earth gapes, hell burns, fiends roar, saints pray.
To have him suddenly convey’d from hence.
Cancel his bond of life, dear God I pray,
That I may live and say ‘The dog is dead’.
QUEEN ELIZABETH
O, thou didst prophesy the time would come
That I should wish for thee to helpme curse
That bottled spider, that foul bunch-back’d toad.
MARGARET
I call’d thee then vain flourish of my fortune;
I call’d thee, then, poor shadow, painted queen,
The presentation of but what I was;
The flattering index of a direful pageant;
One heav’d a –high, to be hurl’d down below;
A mother only mock’d with two fair babes;
A dream of what thou wast; a garish flag
To be the aim of of every dangerous shot;
A sign of dignity; a breath, a bubble;
A queen in jest, only to fill the scene.
Where is thy husband now? Where be thy brothers?
Where are thy two sons? Wherein dost thou joy?
Who sues, and kneels, and says ‘God save the Queen’?
Where be the bending peers that flatter’d thee?
Where be the thronging troops that follow’d thee?
Decline all this, and see what thou art:
For happy wife, a most distressed widow;
For joyful mother , one that wails the name;
For one being sued to, one that humbly sues;
For Queen, a very caitiff, crown’d with care;
For she that scorn’d at me, now scorn’e of me;
For she being fear;d of all, now fearing one;
For she commanding all, obey’d of none.
This hath the course of justice whirl’d about
And left thee but a very prey to time,
Having no more but thought of what thou wast
To torture thee the more, being what thou art.
Thou didst usurp my place, and dost thou not
Usurp the just proportion of my sorrow?
Now thy proud neck bears half of my burden’d yoke,
From which even here I slip my weary head,
And leave the burden of it all on thee. Farewell,
York’s wife, and Queen of sad mischance;
These English woes shall make me smile in France.
Question:
Do you think these omissions have a significant effect on the meaning of the play?
Why/why not?
Three workshops for schools & youth theatres
Devised by Julian Olive from York Theatre Royal
WORKSHOP ONE: An introduction to the story of Richard III.
ENEMY & PROTECTOR. Group move around the space and choose one person in the space, not
letting that person know, label them A. Choose a second person, label them B. A is you’re
ENEMY so keep them at a distance. B is now your PROTECTOR so keep them between yourself
and your enemy. Switch it around so your enemy is now your protector!
In Richard III friendship and trust are very flexible and tenuous things. There is a continual need
to ‘watch’ one’s back’ in the play, even someone you thought you could trust, can suddenly
turn against you.
SHOW ME…in groups.
• A victorious army after battle
• A King’s coronation
• A jubilant banquet after the coronation
• (within the previous image) A scheming, ruthless and ambitious opponent to the throne
• Someone ‘Deformed, unfinish’d, scarce half made up’
All these images are part of the story just before we enter the story of the play. A new King has
gained the throne and it is hoped that England will now enter a period of stability.
WHOOSH! The story of The War of the Roses. The play launches into the war between the
Plantagenet houses of York and Lancaster and it’s important to know the context of the history
leading into the start of the play. Using a prop crown, a red rose and a white rose, the
facilitator tells the story inviting students to come up and play the different parts (in capitals)
and act out the story. A whoosh indicates for the stage to empty and new students are invited
up to tell the story. (See appendix 1)
RICHARD III OPENING SOLILOQUY (see appendix 2)
VERSE SPEAKING GUIDELINES
• Observe each line as separate from the others
• Slight pause at the end of each line (unless there is a full stop, then you can stop)
• Avoid breathing or pausing anywhere in the line, irrespective of given punctuation
“Now is the winter of our discontent…” breaking it down into sections.
•
Read around the circle the first section of the soliloquy to the punctuation…
What’s a soliloquy? The act of speaking one’s thoughts out loud in the knowledge that an
audience is listening.
•
Each person chooses a word or phrase from the section; they don’t need to understand
its meaning.
•
They come up with a clear action or gesture to accompany speaking the word. What
sense from the chosen words and actions do we get of this opening?
What is Richard telling us about the past and now, current situation? Who is he talking about
and what opinion is he giving us about them?
•
•
As before read round section two to the punctuation.
Beat through the iambic patterns – there is greater disruption to the 10 syllable
pattern, why?
What is Richard telling us about himself? How does he feel about this?
•
Same as above, read to punctuation and beat through iambic patterns.
What is he telling us about what he’s going to do? What’s the plot?
•
•
In pairs, give each of the three sections a title, the title should explicitly tell us what the
purpose of the story is e.g. From war to peace, I am unloved, Plotting to take the crown.
Choose 10 key moments (single words of phrases) that tell Richards story. Mark these
moments on the script. They then create a strong action for each moment they have
chosen.
The soliloquy broadly tells us what has happened, how Richard feels about it and himself and
finally what he plans to do about it. It sets up the whole play in one soliloquy, enticing and
drawing us immediately into his Machiavellian world.
WORKSHOP TWO: An introduction to the story of Richard III
WARM UP. Players spread out in the space, as they move around they ensure they fill the
whole space at all times. They are then given the line “Thou art a traitor! Off with his head!”,
which they throw to another player as if it were a ball. Each player passes the line on, and the
words move back and forth, finding different ways of passing the line. A second line is added
“They smile at me who shortly shall be dead.” Players throw the two lines back and forth.
TRAITORS. In this game, players move independently around the space. Spontaneously,
without cue, a group begins to form, at which point each player’s aim is to join the group as
quick as possible. The group all point at the last player excluded from the group, who freezes.
Once frozen, the group collectively make a chopping action with their hand and say “Thou art a
traitor! Off with his head!”, the “traitor” dies and as their ghost leaves the playing area they
reply with “They smile at me who shortly shall be dead.” Play continues as more and more
“traitors” are eliminated.
Debrief discusses how it felt to be frozen out, and how it felt to no longer be part of the group.
TELLING THE STORY: Richard III in 20 mins. (see Appendix 3)
Students are put into small groups and are assigned mini-scenes. They should self-narrate their
scenes, take on all the roles in capitals and also use the italicised words as direct speech. They
should stage their scene giving due consideration to their audience.
Starting Places for Devising: Themes and Images
Players brainstorm responses to the question: What is this play about? Key words are listed.
Five of these words are chosen and placed in a sequence, e.g. rejection / conspiracy / murder /
betrayal / revenge.
In groups of 5, Players make images using those words and find a way to make the sequence
circular.
Players find a way of moving fluidly from one image to the other using twists and turns, making
a river of images. Groups distribute themselves around a central playing area and perform their
pieces one after the other to music.
The groups then are asked to return to their sequence of images and find a narrative for their
sequence – a story that makes sense of the images. They may draw inspiration from the plot of
Richard III. Groups are allowed to extend on their sequence – it now comes to life as a play
rather than a series of fixed images – this means that they can include words, which might be
modern English and/or text scraps, but the words must be kept to a minimum.
Groups perform their stories. They may also use music to accompany their piece, from the
selection provided.
WORKSHOP THREE: Richard and Buckingham: Exploring relationship
FRIENDSHIP.
In pairs players create 3 still pictures: 2 friends celebrating, 2 friends sharing a secret, 2 friends
who don’t trust each other anymore.
In pairs, labeled A & B, players improvise a scene where two friends have bunked off school, they
are having a fantastic time until A asks B to do something they don’t want to do. How do B’s
feel?
Players are given the situation from the play: they discuss the difficulty of saying no to
someone who is not only your friend but also the most powerful person in your universe, and
the different ways that there are for Buckingham to do this. Discuss how Richard may react.
I WANT THE BASTARDS DEAD…
Players are asked to find to create a still image of the moment that Richard starts the
conversation where he asks Buckingham to kill the Princes. Decide on where Richard is when
Buckingham enters, what is he doing? Trying on his new crown? Reading a book? Playing
snooker? Sharpening a knife? Pacing up and down corridors? Etc? Why does Buckingham come
in? Was he sent for? Has he come for a celebration drink? Where is Buckingham in relation to
Richard?
Now, players create a 30 second sequence with no words around the moment of their greeting.
Players bring the scene to life now using their own words for Richard to ask Buckingham to
murder the Princes. How does he do it? Does he come straight out with it? Does he make
subtle hints? Does he go all round the houses before finally coming out with it? Does he flatter
Buckingham and get him on side first? How does Buckingham react? Does he flatly refuse?
Evade the question? How does Richard feel about Buckingham’s reaction? Think about the line
that starts the scene – discuss with the group the different options available for who might
speak first and what they might say.
SCENE STUDY
Players are now given an edited version of the scene.(Appendix four) Keeping the same initial
30 secs of action, play the scene using Shakespeare’s text.
The line “Stand all apart” suggests the rest of the court has been asked to move, so one pair is
selected to play out the scene again in a public setting. Courtiers around Richard are added in
two lines facing each other with everyone kneeling. On Richard’s instruction, “Stand all apart!”
all players will get up and walk around at speed level 2. Meanwhile Buckingham will go and talk
to Richard. The court is asked to retain the sense of being watched as they move around the
space. Did they find themselves listening? How did they feel? The scene is played again, one
courtier is given the line “Long live King Richard!” to start the action the rest of the players
repeat the line. The court is asked to freeze on the line “I wish the bastards dead.” They remain
frozen until Buckingham exits. What is the effect? Music can be added to underscore the scene,
which cuts out on the same line.
Players discuss what it felt like during the scene. Did they find themselves listening to Richard
and Buckingham? How did they feel being party to this conversation? What are the risks in
them overhearing Richard’s request? Were there any lines that felt particularly significant
when in this public setting?
CONSCIENCE ALLEY – should Buckingham kill the Princes in the Tower?
Players offer suggestions for why Buckingham should or should not carry out the murder of the
princes.
Each player chooses one piece of advice to offer Buckingham and form a corridor down which a
chosen player walks. The chosen player listens to all the advice he is given and then decides at
the end of the corridor whether or not is going to go commit the murder.
Collaborative Soliloquy. Players are each given three scraps of paper. They are asked to imagine
that they are Buckingham at the end of this scene, and write in role. They write a line on each
sheet of paper expressing what Buckingham might like to say, what he feels, what he would like
to do. The workshop leader becomes the voice of Buckingham and asks if anyone has anything
written down which would make a good first line for a speech. That person will come up and
give the scrap of paper to the teacher, who reads it out. The rest of the players listen to the
line, and then suggest if they have something which could be said next. Lines are taken from
every player and a new speech is created.
In pairs, players take it in turns to play Buckingham rehearsing what he is going to say to
Richard.
York Theatre Royal are part of the Learning and Performance Network.
Many thanks to RSC’s Learning and Performance Network for workshop exercise contribution.
APPENDIX 1 – Story Whoosh!
Once, England was ruled by KING HENRY VI of the house of Lancaster. He was known as a
peaceful and religious man. But all was not peaceful in his Kingdom. There were Dukes and
Lords of the House of York who believed that Henry was not the rightful king. They believe that
they should rule England, so they plotted and planned, and then they armed themselves to
take Henry’s throne by force.
WHOOSH
You see, HENRY VI had inherited the crown from his father HENRY V, who had inherited it from
his father HENRY IV. For three generations, the House of Lancaster had ruled the land, under
their banner the Red Rose. They had ruled for so long, that they looked like they were the
rightful Royal family. But Henry IV had not inherited the crown from his father.
WHOOSH
The man who became Henry IV, was plain old HENRY, DUKE OF LANCASTER. He was one of
three cousins. One of his cousins was KING RICHARD II and the other was LADY PHILIPPA, OF
THE HOUSE OF YORK. Henry was determined to be king, so he murdered King Richard and took
the crown. Under the laws of succession, Philippa had a stronger claim to the throne than
Henry. But Henry threatened Philippa with his sword, until she gave up her claim. And so Henry
of Lancaster became King Henry IV, and the Lancastrians ruled the land, under their banner, the
Red Rose. BUT, PHILIPPA’S DESCENDANTS never accepted the Lancastrians as kings. They
believe that the Yorkists were the rightful Royal family of England. Under their banner, the
White Rose, they plotted and planned to take back the throne for the House of York. So began
the War of the Roses, along and bitter feud.
WHOOSH
By the time HENRY VI of the House of Lancaster ruled England, the main Yorkist rebellion was
led by Philippa’s descendent EDWARD, DUKE OF YORK, supported by his younger brothers,
GEORGE, DUKE OF CLARENCE and RICHARD, DUKE OF GLOUCESTER. King Henry and his son
the PRINCE OF WALES raised an ARMY, and the Yorkists raised an ARMY, and then they fought
hand to hand for control of the kingdom. Finally, during fierce battle, Richard, youngest brother
of the House of York, found King Henry VI on the battlefield, and killed him, bloodily. Then
Richard found Henry’s son and heir the Prince of Wales, and killed him too. All the Yorkists
cheered. Then they took the remaining Lancastrians prisoner, and the House of York took
control of England.
WHOOSH
And so, EDWARD, the odest brother of the House of York, took his place on the throne as KING
EDWARD IV. His wife, ELIZABETH, and their three children, TWO LITTLE PRINCES and a
PRINCESS took their places at his side. And he gathered around him LORDS who he could trust.
The king’s brothers, GEORGE, DUKE OF CLARENCE and RICHARD, DUKE OF GLOUCESTER,
bowed to their brother and his family, and it seemed at last that some stability had come to
England. Richard, the youngest brother, declared: Now is the winter of our discontent made
glorious summer by this son of York!
WHOOSH!
APPENDIX 2 – Richard’s opening soliloquy
DUKE OF GLOUCESTER (Act 1 scene 1 edited)
Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this sun of York;
And all the clouds that lour'd upon our house
In the deep bosom of the ocean buried.
Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths;
Grim-visaged war hath smooth'd his wrinkled front;
And now, instead of mounting barbèd steeds
To fright the souls of fearful adversaries,
He capers nimbly in a lady's chamber
To the lascivious pleasing of a lute.
But I, that am not shaped for sportive tricks,
Nor made to court an amorous looking-glass;
I, that am curtail'd of this fair proportion,
Cheated of feature by dissembling nature,
Deformed, unfinish'd, sent before my time
Into this breathing world, scarce half made up,
And that so lamely and unfashionable
That dogs bark at me as I halt by them;
And therefore, since I cannot prove a lover,
I am determined to prove a villain
And hate the idle pleasures of these days.
Plots have I laid, inductions dangerous,
To set my brother Clarence and the king
In deadly hate the one against the other:
And if King Edward be as true and just
As I am subtle, false and treacherous,
This day should Clarence closely be mew'd up,
APPENDIX 3 – Richard III in 20 mins.
Part 1
RICHARD, DUKE OF GLOUCESTER, has two older brothers: EDWARD DUKE OF YORK (the
oldest), and GEORGE DUKE OF CLARENCE. These three brothers of the House of York have
fought a long and bitter war against the House of Lancaster in the War of the Roses, but now
they Have won that war, and Edward has been crowned King of England. Richard is disabled,
and sees himself as a bunch-backed toad. He is bitter and twisted and wants to become king
himself. But first he will he will have to get rid of his brothers.
Richard: I am determined to prove a villain. Plots have I laid . . .
To set my brother Clarence and the King
In deadly hate the one against the other.
Richard starts a rumour that King Edward will be murdered by someone whose name begins
with ‘G.’ Edward orders his brother George, Duke of Clarence, to be imprisoned for treason in
the Tower of London. But then Edward falls seriously ill. This is a complication: if Edward dies
before Clarence does, Clarence will inherit the throne, so Richard decides to murder his middle
brother.
Richard: Clarence hath not another day to live;
Which done, God take King Edward to His mercy
And leave the world for me to bustle in!
Part 2
In the War of the Roses, the Lancastrian King, HENRY VI, and his son THE PRINCE OF WALES
are defeated and killed by RICHARD of the House of York. After the war is over, a funeral is held
for Henry. Leading the mourners is Henry’s daughter in law, LADY ANNE, widow of the
Lancastrian Prince of Wales. Richard stops the funeral, and Lady Anne attacks him bitterly.
Anne:
Foul devil! Thou hast made the happy earth thy hell!
Dids’t thou not kill this king?
Richard: I grant ye.
Richard decides he must marry Anne to stop her from causing trouble. He declares that he
loves her, but she spits in his face. Drawing his sword he tells her to kill him if she doesn’t
believe him.
Richard: I did kill Henry –
But ‘twas thy beauty that provoked me.
(She lets fall the sword.)
Take up the sword again, or take up me.
But Anne cannot kill him.
Anne: Arise, dissembler; though I wish thy death
I will not be thy executioner.
And she realises that if she marries Richard she will be protected, so she agrees. After she has
gone, Richard congratulates himself
Richard: Was ever woman in this humour won?
I’ll have her, but I will not keep her long.
Part 3
Meanwhile, the newly crowned KING EDWARD is gravely ill, and asks for his wife QUEEN
ELIZABETH, his brother RICHARD Duke of Gloucester and his children, the two young princes
EDWARD and RICHARD, and their sister princess ELIZABETH to gather around his death bed.
In comes the defeated QUEEN MARGARET widow of the Lancastrian King Henry VI. She curses
everyone, for their crimes against her family, and prophesies the downfall of the House of York
at the hands of Richard.
Margaret: The day will come that thou shalt wish for me,
To help thee curse this poisonous bunch-backed toad.
But they all think she is a mad old woman, laugh at her, and take no notice.
King Edward Dies. His eldest son, Prince Edward is made king, but he and his little brother are
too young to rule, so Uncle Richard is made Lord Protector, and effectively is now in charge of
England. He takes the boys from their mother, Queen Elizabeth.
Part 4
RICHARD, as Lord Protector, brings PRINCE EDWARD with his little brother, PRINCE RICHARD
to London for Edward’s coronation. But Richard sends the little princes to the Tower of London,
for their own protection.
Prince Edward: Where shall we sojourn until our coronation?
Richard:
If I may counsel you, some day or two
Your highness shall repose you at the Tower.
So, the two princes are imprisoned. There is no coronation, and the LORDS worry about the
future of the Kingdom.
Lord: Woe to the land that is governed by a child!
Richard has an advisor called LORD BUCKINGHAM. Together, they start to systematically and
secretly kill off anyone who questions Richard’s actions or his right to rule England. QUEEN
ELIZABETH, who is still officially Queen mother, watches and worries as her FOLLOWERS AND
ALLIES are executed one by one.
Queen Elizabeth: Ay me!I see the ruin of my House.
Welcome destruction, blood and massacre!
I see, as in a map, the end of all.
Knowing his life is in danger, Elizabeth’s cousin the EARL OF RICHMOND flees to France, to
seek sanctuary and aid from the French King.
Part 5
RICHARD and BUCKINGHAM start to accuse anyone who might stand in the way of Richard
becoming King. They gather the LORDS of the land, and Richard accuses Queen Elizabeth of
witchcraft:
Richard: Look how I am bewitched!Behold, mine arm
Is like a blasted sapling withered up;
And this is Edward’s wife, that monstrous witch!
The Lord Chamberlain, LORD HASTINGS protests, and Richard declares:
Richard: Thou art a traitor.
Off with his head!
Hastings: Woe, woe for England, not a whit for me!
Hastings is executed.
Part 6
Then, Richard tells Buckingham to spread the rumour that Queen Elizabeth was unfaithful to
his brother and the princes in the Tower are illegitimate.
Richard: Infer the bastardy of Edward’s children!
THE PEOPLE start to demand that Richard is crowned King.
People: God save King Richard!
And the LORD MAYOR of London offers Richard the crown. But Richard pretends he does not
want to be king:
Mayor:
Do good my lord, your citizens entreat you.
Buckingham: Refuse not mighty lord, this proffered suit.
Richard:
Alas why would you heap this care on me?
I am unfit for state and majesty.
But the next day Richard is crowned King Richard III.
Part 7
RICHARD is now King, but he demands that BUCKINGHAM kills the princes in the Tower to
secure his throne:
Richard: Shall I be plain? I wish the bastards dead.
But Buckingham, who has supported Richard all along (and been promised an Earldom),
hesitates to murder innocent children…
Richard:
Say, have I thy consent that they shall die?
Buckingham: Give me some little breath, some pause, dear Lord,
Before I positively speak in this.
So Richard hires Tyrell a professional murderer, to kill the young Princes in the Tower.
Buckingham knows he’s in trouble and flees.
Buckingham (alone): O, let me think on Hastings, and be gone
To Brecon while my fearful head is on!
Part 8
In France, the EARL OF RICHMOND hears of the events in England and raises an ARMY of
Lancastrians and French allies. He sends word to QUEEN ELIZABETH that he intends to invade,
kill Richard, and then create a legitimate claim to the throne by marrying her daughter princess
ELIZABETH, still only a child of twelve.
Meanwhile, RICHARD realises what Richmond is planning. So, he kills his wife LADY ANNE, and
vows to marry princess Elizabeth himself.
Part 9
QUEEN ELIZABETH, and Richard's own mother, THE DUCHESS OF YORK, meet to curse
Richard:
Duchess: My damned son
Elizabeth: That bottled spider, that foul bunchback'd toad.
The two women go to RICHARD to confront him with his crimes:
Duchess: Bloody thou art, and bloody will be thy end!
Elizabeth: Where are my children?
But Richard simply smiles and ignores them. His own mother disowns him and leaves, vowing
never to see him again. Left alone with Queen Elizabeth, Richard persuades her to arrange a
marriage between himself and her daughter.
Elizabeth, who is cleverer than Anne, pretends to consent.
Queen Elizabeth: I go. Write to me very shortly
And you shall understand from me her mind.
But Elizabeth immediately takes her daughter to the EARL OF RICHMOND, of the House of
Lancaster, who has just landed with an army in South Wales, where he gains support from
many noblemen.
Part 10
Before the final battle against RICHMOND, at Bosworth, RICHARD is haunted by the ghosts of
all those he has murdered, including Clarence, the young princes, Lord Hastings, Buckingham,
and not least, his wife ANNE.
Ghost of Anne: Richard, thy wife, that wretched Anne thy wife,
That never slept a quiet hour with thee,
Now fills thy sleep with perturbations.
The ghosts circle Richard saying to him: "Let me sit heavy on thy soul" and "Despair and die!"
then they all give their blessing to Richmond, saying “Live, and flourish!” Richard awakes
shaken by the dream, realising that he is totally alone in the world, and that no-one loves him.
He fights bravely in battle continuing on foot even when his horse is slain.
Richard: A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!
Finally Richard is killed. The victorious Richmond, becomes King Henry VII, uniting the houses of
Lancaster and York and thus the country by marrying Queen Elizabeth’s young daughter (also
called Elizabeth).
Richmond: O, now let Richmond and Elizabeth,
The true succeeders of each royal house,
By God’s fair ordinance conjoin together!
APPENDIX 4
Richard III, Act 4, Scene 2
KING RICHARD
Stand all apart! Cousin of Buckingham!
BUCKINGHAM
My gracious sovereign?
KING RICHARD
Give me thy hand.
Thus high, by thy advice
And thy assistance, is King Richard seated.
But shall we wear these glories for a day? –
Or shall they last, and we rejoice in them?
BUCKINGHAM
Still live they, and for ever let them last!
KING RICHARD
Ah, Buckingham, now do I play the touch,
To try if thou be current gold indeed.
Young Edward lives – think now what I would speak.
BUCKINGHAM
Say on, my loving lord.
KING RICHARD
Why, Buckingham – I say I would be King.
BUCKINGHAM
Why, so you are, my thrice-renownèd lord.
KING RICHARD
Ha! Am I King? ‘Tis so – but Edward lives.
BUCKINGHAM
True.
KING RICHARD
“True”?
Cousin, thou wast not wont to be so dull.
Shall I be plain? I wish the bastards dead!
And I would have it suddenly performed.
What say’st thou now?
BUCKINGHAM
Your Grace may do your pleasure.
KING RICHARD
Tut, tut, thou art all ice. Thy kindness freezes.
Say, have I thy consent that they shall die?
BUCKINGHAM
Give me some little breath, some pause, dear lord,
Before I positively speak in this.
I will resolve you herein presently.
Exit.
Writers of the Pack
J.Rowland Broughton is a writer with a special interest in the past. His published novels of the Harvey
saga deal with the life of a family across the First and Second world wars. As a member of staff at
Nottingham Playhouse ,with an interest in the life of Richard III and the Wars of the Roses, he has been
delighted to contribute to this Insight Pack.
Julian Ollive studied at the Central School of Speech and Drama and is Education and Young Actors
Associate at York Theatre Royal. Julian worked for English Touring Theatre and CSSD as a practitioner
and has directed for the Royal Court’s Young Writer’s Programme. Julian works across both primary and
secondary phases of education, using drama for cross-curricular learning. He is the artistic director of
the 18-25’s Young Actors Company for whom he has produced works that range from site-specific,
devised, contemporary and classic texts.
Allie Spencer is Education Officer at Nottingham Playhouse. She is Director of The Nottingham
Playhouse Ensemble (Community Theatre Company), Summer School and Upstart work experience
scheme. She writes or edits many of the Insight packs for the Playhouse. She is a freelance Theatre
Practitioner, playwright and University lecturer, and Director of Steep Turnpike Youth Theatre in
Matlock, Derbyshire.
Should you have any comments on this Insight pack please email [email protected]