Wednesday 17 May 2017

Richard III @ Arcola Theatre

Richard III @ Arcola Theatre

In times of political strife we often look to theatre for solace and meaning, especially its tales of twisted monarchs and corrupt leaders. It's particularly prevalent now, from Arturo Ui at the Donmar, to this production of Shakespeare's Richard III at the Arcola Theatre.

Thankfully, though, director Mehmet Ergen has subtlety. Beyond the modern dress, Shakespeare's verse is put above all political allegory. It's left to the audience to pick apart the pieces and find connections.

That is perhaps to the production's detriment a little. The staging is bleak, with its fading floor tiles, scaffold staircase and bare brickwork, meaning there's little visual appeal here. That said, Britain would be a pretty dire place to live under the rule of such a Machiavellian tyrant. It's an uncluttered production that tells the narrative lucidly enough, but it feels a little drab overall.

There's a spark, however, in the leading performance from Greg Hicks. It's a disturbing, twisted physical performance as he clutches the chain connecting his hand and foot, limping and snarling his way through the text. His erratic vocal delivery depicts Richard as an unpredictable character, shifting and morphing as he manipulates those around him. One moment he's deadpan and humourless, the next he's jovial, then cruel and merciless, then charming yet predatory with an almost Cockney swagger. Some lines are rushed and lost, but he's such a magnetic stage presence that the play falls flat when this shocking antihero is absent from the stage.

Like a certain leader of our times, Richard depressingly surrounds himself with straight white old men. Yet from this grim homogeneity, it's the female characters who provide colour. Jane Bertish may only be in a couple of scenes as former queen Margaret, but she certainly threatens Hicks for the audience's attention. World weary and cynical, hers is the strong voice of feminism that all fall silent to hear. Annie Firbank follows suit as Richard's spiteful and cursing mother the Duchess of York, while Sara Powell's grieving Queen Elizabeth captures our hearts. Where the patriarchy is corrupt, these women are the unsung heroes.

3/5

Watch: Richard III runs at the Arcola Theatre until 10th June.

Richard III @ Arcola Theatre

Richard III @ Arcola Theatre
Photos: Alex Brenner