by William Shakespeare | German translation by Thomas Brasch
Theater Plauen-Zwickau
Recommended for ages 15 and up
Richard III is the chronologically final play in Shakespeare's depiction of the English civil war between the Houses of Lancaster (symbolized by a red rose) and York (white rose), known today as the "Wars of the Roses." Richard can do nothing with times of peace. An outsider who appears physically repulsive, he is not well-received by the women at court, and his mind is too sharp for courtly banter and sweet idleness. Power is what interests him. He is the Duke of Gloucester and brother of Edward IV. Thus, he has his brother Clarence murdered after inciting the King against him. Seemingly without conscience, he murders his way to the royal throne. But slowly the tide turns. His opponents march against him with an army. On the evening before the battle, the ghosts of those he murdered appear to Richard and foretell his downfall. Brief pangs of conscience overcome him for the first time before he heads into the decisive battle…
Theater Director Dirk Löschner approaches this monumental material and its extensive cast with a very unique perspective. Not only will a wide variety of puppets play a major role, but all roles will be performed by actresses. While young men played female roles in Elizabethan theater, the casting is reversed here, allowing for entirely new tones to be heard in these words about power and manipulation.
