For this year’s theatre performance, Year 9 and 7B will be performing William Shakespeare’s Richard III, a historical play which tells the story of Richard of Gloucester’s rise to power through fratricide, nepoticide, betrayal, beheadings and (in our version) at least one instance of cruelty to a teddy bear. It is set during the Wars of the Roses, and Shakespeare’s audience would have been entirely familiar with all the events and characters portrayed, apart from the teddy.
A 21st century Italian audience, however, might benefit from a quick history lesson, and the knowledge that the play describes what happened after the Battle of Tewkesbury in 1471. The Yorkist army of King Edward IV has completely defeated the Lancastrian king Henry VI and his son and heir Edward, Prince of Wales. Standing between Richard and the throne are his two elder brothers, King Edward and Prince George, as well as Edward’s young children Prince Edward and Prince Richard. He also has to convince the King’s loyal supporter the Earl of Hastings to agree to him becoming king and marrying the two princes’ elder sister Elizabeth.
However, Henry Richmond, a Lancastrian, has his own ambitions too…
Below is a digital version of a programme, a physical copy of which will be given out on the evening of the performance, explaining in Italian what is unfolding in each scene, in case you find yourself wondering what the Shakespeare is going on.
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