Exploring Shakespeare

Richard III - Act 1 Scene 1

Richard (Jonathan Slinger) sets the scene - all is well in England, except himself. (Charlie Hamblett plays Edward.)

Richard III - Act 1 Scene 2

Richard (Jonathan Slinger) woos Lady Anne (Hannah Barrie) as she mourns King Henry VI (Chuk Iwuji).

In rehearsal - Act 4 Scene 2

Behind-the-scenes in the RSC rehearsal room - actors and musicians run through the coronation scene.

Performance photo gallery

Explore Michael Boyd's 2007 RSC production of Richard III from Richard's opening soliloquy, to the coronation and final battle.

Rehearsal photo gallery

Join the Richard III company behind the scenes in rehearsal.

Teachers' notes [PDF 716K]

Activities for teaching Richard III, based on RSC rehearsal room practice. (You need PDF reader software.)

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[Enter GLOUCESTER, solus]

Richard (Jonathan Slinger) stands alone, rocking a cloth bundle 'baby' to the beat of a drum.

Act and Scene: Pre Act 1 Scene 1
Credit: Ellie Kurttz
Date: 2007-01-11
Copyright: © RSC 2007

Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer by this sun of York

Richard (Jonathan Slinger) flicks out the cloth to reveal the 12 year old Edward aross the stage. Richard then tucks the cloth into his shirt.

Act and Scene: Act 1 Scene 1
Credit: Ellie Kurttz
Date: 2007-01-11
Copyright: © RSC 2007

Villain, thou know'st no law of God nor man: No beast so fierce but knows some touch of pity.

Anne (Hannah Barrie) curses Richard over the body of Henry VI (Chuk Iwuji). So the audience cannot see his chest moving, Chuk takes small, shallow breathes.

Act and Scene: Act 1 Scene 2
Credit: Ellie Kurttz
Date: 2007-01-11
Copyright: © RSC 2007

Here I lend thee this sharp-pointed sword; Which if thou please to hide in this true bosom.

Richard (Jonathan Slinger) tries to persuade Anne (Hannah Barrie) to stab him. She does - just a bit - and both end the scene covered in smears of Richard's blood.

Act and Scene: Act 1 Scene 2
Credit: Ellie Kurttz
Date: 2007-01-11
Copyright: © RSC 2007

Look, how this ring encompasseth finger, Even so thy breast encloseth my poor heart

Richard (Jonathan Slinger) gives Anne (Hannah Barrie) a ring to wear.

Act and Scene: Act 1 Scene 2
Credit: Ellie Kurttz
Date: 2007-01-11
Copyright: © RSC 2007

Was ever woman in this humour woo'd? Was ever woman in this humour won?

Richard (Jonathan Slinger) talks to the audience after Anne's exit. Richard's shaved head and leg brace over his trousers are to show he's not ashamed of his deformities.

Act and Scene: Act 1 Scene 2
Credit: Ellie Kurttz
Date: 2007-01-11
Copyright: © RSC 2007

Witness my son, now in the shade of death

Margaret mourns (Katy Stephens). This photo was taken in the dress rehearsal. It was decided that this skeleton looked too gruesome so the one used in the show is just bone.

Act and Scene: Act 1 Scene 3
Credit: Ellie Kurttz
Date: 2007-01-11
Copyright: © RSC 2007

As you would beg, were you in my distress a begging prince what beggar pities not?

Clarence (James Tucker) is chased by Lovell (Keith Dunphy) and Vaughan (Nicholas Asbury) who have been sent to murder him.

Act and Scene: Act 1 Scene 3
Credit: Ellie Kurttz
Date: 2007-01-11
Copyright: © RSC 2007

Take that, and that: if all this will not do, I'll drown you in a vat of malmsey wine!

Lovell (Keith Dunphy) stabs Clarence (James Tucker). The original line has been changed here for ease of understanding. James wears a thin plastic bag of blood under his shirt which he bursts by hitting it.

Act and Scene: Act 1 Scene 4
Credit: Ellie Kurttz
Date: 2007-01-11
Copyright: © RSC 2007

How fain, like Pilate, would I wash my hands of this most grievous guilty murder done!

Vaughan (Nicholas Asbury) tells the audience of his guilt. In the background, Lovell (Keith Dunphy) has stabbed Clarence (James Tucker) and is preparing to move the body.

Act and Scene: Act 1 Scene 4
Credit: Ellie Kurttz
Date: 2007-01-11
Copyright: © RSC 2007

Wife, love Lord Hastings, let him kiss your hand; And what you do, do it unfeignedly.

King Edward IV (Forbes Masson, above) forces the reconciliation of Elizabeth (Ann Ogbomo) with Hastings (Tom Hodgkins). To Edward's left, Catesby (Julius D'Silva) holds his oxygen cylinder.

Act and Scene: Act 2 Scene 1
Credit: Ellie Kurttz
Date: 2007-01-11
Copyright: © RSC 2007

Now Margaret's curse is fall'n upon our heads, for standing by when Richard stabb'd her son.

Elizabeth's sons Grey (Chris McGill) and Rivers (Geoffrey Streatfield) lie dead, after they have been shot.

Act and Scene: Act 3 Scene 3
Credit: Ellie Kurttz
Date: 2007-01-11
Copyright: © RSC 2007

His lordship knows me well, and loves me well.

Richard (Jonathan Slinger) accuses Hastings (Tom Hodgkins) of treason. Transparent chairs were used so that the audience, who sit on three sides of the stage, always have a clear view.

Act and Scene: Act 3 Scene 4
Credit: Ellie Kurttz
Date: 2007-01-11
Copyright: © RSC 2007

Look you get a prayer-book in your hand, and stand betwixt two churchmen

Buckingham has instructed Richard (Jonathan Slinger) to pose in this way. (Clergymen are Nicholas Asbury, left, and Miles Richardson, right.) Richard is wearing a plain shirt to enhance his appearance as an ordinary guy.

Act and Scene: Act 3 Scene 7
Credit: Ellie Kurttz
Date: 2007-01-11
Copyright: © RSC 2007

I salute you with this kingly title: Long live Richard, England's royal king!

Buckingham (Richard Cordery) appeals to the audience, as citizens, to accept Richard as their king.

Act and Scene: Act 3 Scene 7
Credit: Ellie Kurttz
Date: 2007-01-11
Copyright: © RSC 2007

Long live King Richard of that name the third.

The ghost of York (Clive Wood) looks on at his son Richard's (Jonathan Slinger) coronation. All the ghosts of Richard's victims appear on the first balcony and repeat this line.

Act and Scene: Act 4 Scene 2
Credit: Ellie Kurttz
Date: 2007-01-11
Copyright: © RSC 2007

None are for me that look into me with considering eyes

Richard's coronation (Jonathan Slinger). This line has been changed - the original is "considerate" eyes but the meaning of this word has changed over time.

Act and Scene: Act 4 Scene 2
Credit: Ellie Kurttz
Date: 2007-01-11

I say again, give out that Anne my wife is sick and like to die

Anne (Hannah Barrie) moves as part of a slow-motion party scene for the coronation. She is utterly in despair - she is powerless to stop Richard.

Act and Scene: Act 4 Scene 2
Credit: Ellie Kurttz
Date: 2007-01-11

What is done cannot be now amended: Men shall deal unadvisedly sometimes

Richard (Jonathan Slinger) tries to persuade Elizabeth (Ann Ogbomo) to woo her daughter for him.

Act and Scene: Act 4 Scene 4
Credit: Ellie Kurttz
Date: 2007-01-11

O Thou, whose captain I account myself, Look on my forces with a gracious eye

Before the battle, Richmond (Lex Shrapnel) prays before he goes to bed.

Act and Scene: Act 5 Scene 3
Credit: Ellie Kurttz
Date: 2007-01-11

When the lion fawns upon the lamb, the lamb will never cease to follow him.

Henry (Chuk Iwuji) appears to Richmond (Lex Shrapnel) in a dream and gives him a sword. The line has been added from Henry VI Part 3. Richard (Jonathan Slinger) is in his own dream. The falling feathers symbolise the smothering of the princes.

Act and Scene: Act 5 Scene 3
Credit: Ellie Kurttz
Date: 2007-01-11

I am a villain: yet I lie. I am not.

Richard (Jonathan Slinger) wakes up from his nightmare, confused and upset.

Act and Scene: Act 5 Scene 3
Credit: Ellie Kurttz
Date: 2007-01-11

Let not our babbling dreams affright our souls: Conscience is but a word that cowards use

Richard (Jonathan Slinger), ready for battle in a flak jacket.

Act and Scene: Act 5 Scene 3
Credit: Ellie Kurttz
Date: 2007-01-11

The battle

The battle scene is staged as an abstract slow-motion piece. Richard (Jonathan Slinger) is carried by Buckingham (Richard Cordery), as his horse. The ghosts from the whole tetralogy are present.

Act and Scene: Act 5 Scene 4
Credit: Ellie Kurttz
Date: 2007-01-11