Villainous king comes to Kenilworth

With archaeologists believing they have found the skeleton of the king under a car park in Leicester the production is very topical and its staging will mark the beginning of a programme of celebratory events at the Barrow Road site.

Director Christine Carpenter says that after many years of trying she has now been able to assemble a cast of sufficient quality and size to do the play justice.

This includes a “young, energetic and charismatic” Dave Crossfield in the title role.

Christine said: “The play requires an enormous cast, and it’s only the reputation of the Talisman Stage as a place of both technical and artistic excellence that allows this cast to be assembled.”

Dave has likend playing the eponymous hero to “anticipating a bungee jump” and has spent many months preparing himself. He did, however, draw the line at allowing himself to be buried in a municipal car-park, even for publicity purposes.

The story of Richard II is simple and well-known.

The King’s youngest brother decides he wants the throne. He cheats, plots, deceives, frames, seduces and murders everyone in his way.

The victims include his brother, friends, wife and young nephews.

Younger viewers might think of Game of Thrones combined with Shakespeare’s beautiful use of language.

Early in the play Queen Margaret, played by Kathy Crawshaw, curses everyone and this curse rings through the whole play.

The women of the court find themselves driven to madness by the grief they endure and Richard’s friends, relatives and allies, one by one, have to flee or die.

There are several scenes of black comedy and the combination of charm and ruthlessness from Richard lends the play an occasional pantomimic quality.

John Francis, the Talisman Theatre’s publicity manager, said: “Although the characters in the play existed, the play has little historical accuracy and was written as a ‘hatchet job’ on the Tudors’ predecessors.

“As such it’s a very accessible play and if you’re going to start your Shakespeare education, a great place to begin.”

The show runs from Monday October 1 to Saturday October 6, starting at 7:30pm.

Tickets are available from the box-office on 856548.

For more information visit www.talismantheatre.co.uk