Leicester, Middleham and That Play | Matt’s History Blog

Antony Sher as Richard III for the Royal Shakespeare Company [1984]

Antony Sher as Richard III for the Royal Shakespeare Company [1984]

The performances of Shakespeare’s Richard III scheduled to take place inside Leicester Cathedral on 19th and 20th July 2017 are causing waves. There can be little doubt that the size and extent of …

Source: Leicester, Middleham and That Play | Matt’s History Blog

4 thoughts on “Leicester, Middleham and That Play | Matt’s History Blog

  1. An interesting debate indeed. I wonder if most audiences in 2017 will believe the play to still be fact? That’s a little hard to credit, but I can see the sensitivity issues. I presume that this is a simple commercial exercise for all involved, and agree that the publicity has been generated around this long debate about Richard. I think I would find it most unusual to watch this play in a cathedral, and it is unlikely to convert me to the side of those who demonise the character. I have a feeling that the man himself would have welcomed the notoriety.
    Best wishes, Pete.

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    • I’d say it’s not hard to credit since accompanying history is rarely given in English classes and even if an article debunking the play’s premise is included in the programme, I suspect there are a lot of people who don’t read anything other than the actor bios. I’d love to see it in the Cathedral and I do hope that Antic Disposition take up Matt’s offer. They’d be crazy not to. It should feature more prominently in the programme than the actors, and that’s an actress speaking! I also think the Ricardians (other than Matt) are unnecessarily hypersensitive.

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