When it comes to Richard III no two tellings of the tale ever seem to be the same... Hear them all and decide for yourself.

On 22 August 1485 Richard III was the last English King to die in battle at Bosworth Field. His body was subsequently hurried into a shallow grave in Greyfriars Kirk in Leicester where he remained until 2012 when Phillipa Langley’s famous dig uncovered his remains in a city centre car park under a space coincidentally marked with an ‘R’. Join us to take a sideways look at his story. Rewriting Richard features two companies and two shows presenting different views of the man and the history behind Britain's most intriguing King. 

In Now is the Winter Bess gossips her way through the story in the castle kitchen. Above stairs in Uncle Richard an eleven year old Henry VIII and his mother Elizabeth of York discover that when it comes to Uncle Richard no two tellings of the tale ever seem to be quite the same…  

Rewriting Richard is a special one-off double bill performance at The Other Place this Autumn. A co-production between Alarum Theatre and Tell Tale Presents, Rewriting Richard offers a chance to catch two acclaimed new plays exploring the history of King Richard III presented by the two professional touring companies who created them.

Alarum Theatre started in 2010 to tell the stories of the women on the sidelines of life: servants, carers, workers. The sort of women who just get on with life but who observe keenly and have rich stories to tell. We have taken shows to Edinburgh, Brighton and Oxford fringe festivals and toured extensively on England's inland waterways.

Tell Tale are compulsive storytellers with a passion for all things historical. A touring company based in Warwickshire, Tell Tale Presents won a Best New Writing Award for their first play at the Stratford-upon-Avon Fringe in 2012. All Tell Tale plays combine careful research with a healthy dose of silliness and gentle audience participation and have the oral tradition, history and family audience at heart. Tell Tale produce new bespoke plays for heritage, arts and community venues and events and develop the scripts into touring theatre productions.

Now is the Winter by K Saffin (Alarum Theatre)

Directed by Susi Dalton

Devoted servant Bess  gossips her way through the story from her viewpoint in the castle kitchen. Bess might be fictitious but she is ‘thoroughly Shakespearean’ (The Stage). A retelling that turns the Tudor view on its head – using Shakespeare’s own text.

… a skilled reworking of Richard III from a woman's perspective… deserves to be seen by anyone with a love of Shakespeare, or simply a love of beautiful language and a good story, delivered with consumate ease and skill.  (**** Fringe Review)

A new and striking reworking of Richard III ‘played with warm, realistic humour by Helen McGregor…thoroughly Shakespearean in spirit’ (The Stage)

Uncle Richard by ES Cooper (Tell Tale Presents)

Directed by Taresh Solanki

Commissioned by Leicester Guildhall and Leicester City Council for the reinterment of Richard III in March 2015, Uncle Richard is set in 1502 and features an 11-year-old Henry VIII, his mother Elizabeth of York and his exuberant tutor John Skelton, as they try to piece together Richard's short reign and the disappearance of Prince Harry's uncles, the Princes in the Tower. A firm favourite with family audiences of all ages, the Wars of the Roses will never look the same again!

“A massive hit.... Engaging and inspired storytelling theatre... Don’t miss out on a Plantaganet Masterclass!” (Ludlow Fringe)

“Raises fresh perspectives…” (Ricardian Bulletin, Richard III Society)

“Fast and Furious… I loved it.  *****” (Skiddle audience reviews)

Q&A 

In addition to showcasing two acclaimed performances, Rewriting Richard offers a valuable opportunity for audience members, heritage representatives and professional Artists to discuss how performance arts and heritage can work together to serve new audiences and bring history to life in an informal post-show Q&A session.