marjorie73 | Richard II - Sam Wanamaker Playhouse

This is the second Richard II I've seen this year, the first being at the Almeida in January.This one was at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, (the Globe's Jacobean theatre), and the cast, led by Adjoa Andoh (who also co-directed) was made up entirely of women of colour.

We were sitting in the front row, right round to one side, so at the side of the stage, which was interesting, although it did mean that a lot of the time the actors were facing away from us.

The playhouse, before the play

The production sets the play in a non-specific, other England - the back of the stage has been covered with bamboo, and the cast were all dressed in styles from a range of different countries and traditions, and photos of female ancestors of the various cast members were displayed around the theatre. Richard's crown was made of black and gold feathers, and she carried a horsetail fly-whisk by way of a sceptre.

There were some really powerful performances - Andoh's Richard was perfectly petulant, too sure of her own god-given right to rule, and Shobna Gulati's Duke of York was a joy to watch, and listen to, as her loyalties gradually shifted.

In the current, Brexit-heavy political climate, John of Gaunt' (Dona Crull)'s deathbed speech hit home very hard.

Over all, an excellent and thought-provoking production, one to catch if you can. It's on until 21st April I have to admit, I enjoyed it much more than the Almeida version (despite Simon Russell Beale,)