
The Tragedy of King Richard the Second
3.2 (11) · Shakespeare
Simon Russell Beale plays King Richard II in a visceral new production about the limits of power, directed by Joe Hill-Gibbins
Overview
King. The male ruler of an independent state; one who inherits the position by right of birth.
King of the castle. A children’s game in which each child attempts to stand alone on a mound, or sandcastle, by pushing other children off it.
Critic reviews
Simon Russell Beale plays the overthrown monarch in this truncated version of Shakespeare's Richard II
Swift and strange take on Richard II with brilliant performances from Simon Russell Beale and Leo Bill
Joe Hill-Gibbins’ stripped-back production delivers a forceful royal downfall, but leaves little space to explore the power plays behind it
A Simon Russell Beale masterclass, but an irksome production
Simon Russell Beale and Leo Bill shine in this alarmingly familiar depiction of England in total chaos
A timely portrait of a country in chaos
A fresh and challenging evening
Simon Russell Beale proves he could recite Shakespeare backwards while eating cereal
It offers a superb evening of excitement with brilliant acting and great directorial decisions, proving that minimalistic productions can be just as engaging and shocking as big-budget spectacles