Lyric Theatre’s production of William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Richard III, adapted by Michael Patrick and Oisín Kearney, carries Shakespeare’s classic themes of betrayal, death, and ambition, yet brings a modernisation that reflects our everyday realities and the devastation of living with a terminal illness.
It tells the story of Richard’s ambition to seize power and the crown while facing the reality of his disability. Like Patrick himself, who plays the titular king, Richard has been newly diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in this adaptation. I believe some of the truest forms of art come from channelling personal experience, and Patrick’s resilience proves this in his magnificent portrayal of Richard.
The production reflects the importance of inclusivity in theatre and the arts with the impressive Paula Clarke as Tyrrell, a Deaf actress who uses sign language throughout the play, alongside Patrick and Zak Ford-Williams, who share the role of Richard and use a range of wheelchairs to reflect Richard’s power and vulnerability at the core of his rise.
While the adaption follows Shakespeare’s traditional text, the play moves away from tradition with native accents and costumes (by set and costume designer Niall McKeever) that reflect the present and past. Riot police uniforms, shields and batons create a parallel with the conflict of our modern times, a vision that allowed a Belfast audience to connect on a deep, real level. The direction by Oisín Kearney achieves the aim of living in the ‘now’ throughout these scenes.
The use of mannequins creates comedic relief and brings a lightness to the subject of death when thrown into a large black bin, while the darkness and horror of murder and betrayal is enhanced by the physicality of movement, tonal lighting and heightened, unnerving music, at times sung by the cast themselves, creating an almost nightmarish reality on stage. Drums, played by the cast, create a regal atmosphere, before later in the play becoming the background for the war cries.
Clarke and Patrick offer a dynamic, comical pairing as Tyrrell and Richard, while Patrick McBrearty’s plotting Buckingham is authoritative and sinister and Ciaran O’Brien brings refreshing flamboyance and passion to Clarence. Breaking the fourth wall to include the audience as a crowd before the King is received with laughter and enthusiasm.
The final scenes emphasise the fragility of life as Richard meets his demise, with the famous line, ‘A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse’, feeling more relevant than ever. The staging gives the impression of a film set or rehearsal space being stripped bare, mirroring the end of Richard’s rise, presenting a powerful reminder of the inevitability of death.
The final moments are poignant – a brilliant cast, united in the creative and inclusive world of theatre, and a man bearing his soul to the world. I left the theatre with a lump in my throat and the burning question – what should I do with the time that has been given to me?
Rating: ★★★★☆ (Very good)
The Tragedy of Richard III is at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast, until 10 November
