Richard the Second, 2022

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"...thoroughly compelling... an excellent thought-provoking night out for anyone… a cast of rare power." PlaystoSee

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“a stonking version of the play performed by an exceptional cast.” The Reviews Hub

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“Wonderful performances” The Stage

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“stunning” Stage Talk Magazine

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“an accomplished and solid production, Shakespeare's words are spoken with a freshness and clarity by an all-around excellent cast." Rev Stan

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“intimate and intense” The Guardian

“Here, cousin, seize the crown”

A nation is in turmoil. Three first cousins – Richard, Aumerle and Henry – battle for the supreme position of authority. Who will succeed in saving their country from a trail of ultimate destruction? And who will survive the challenge for the throne?

Richard the second

by william shakespearE

Tangle, in association with MAST Mayflower Studios, is proud to present a radical and electrifying new adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Richard The Second performed in its distinctive Southern African Township theatre style.

With an original score of Zimbabwean music and song, Tangle’s new multicultural production offers a fast, powerful and fresh take on this state of the nation play, while celebrating the excellence of globally talented artists whose multi-national voices are at the centre of the work.

Presented in association with
MAST Mayflower Studios

Richard The Second continues Tangle’s long-term commitment to championing African Caribbean artistic excellence, presenting classic plays in new and surprising ways to audiences of all kinds.

WATCH THE TRAILER

Tangle’s Richard the Second trailer was shot and edited by Nye Williams and Chris Hugall at Graeae Studios. The actors were directed by Anna Coombs.

Poster for Richard the Second: three male heads wearing an African headpiece. — Richard the Second, 2022. Presented by Tangle Theatre Company in association with MAST Mayflower Studios. Image by Adiam Yemane, design Luke Kelly Airborne Studio.

A brass crown over a textured green background — Richard the Second, 2022. Presented by Tangle Theatre Company. Design by Luke Kelly Airborne Studio

THE BOOK

Tangle has produced a special book of Anna Coombs’ radical adaptation. It is beautifully illustrated with production shots, and features an introduction to the play by the director and adapter herself.

Due to popular demand, we have issued a second reprint. Click on the button below to email us and buy a copy for £10 (UK postage included).

UK TOUR 2022

Gillingham School Theatre, Dorset
with Artsreach
Wed 2 November

Theatre Royal Winchester
Thu 3 November

Lighthouse, Poole
Fri 4 November

Pegasus, Oxford
Sat 5 November

Omnibus Theatre, London
Wed 9 – Sun 27 November

MAST Mayflower Studios, Southampton
Thu 20 – Sat 22 October

Swindon Arts Centre
Tue 25 October

Barnfield Theatre, Exeter
Fri 28 October

Taunton Brewhouse
Sun 30 October

Chulmleigh College, Devon
with Beaford Arts
Tue 1 November

THE Cast

Continuing Tangle’s ambition to perform classic plays in new and surprising ways to audiences of all kinds, the play has been adapted for a multi-skilled ensemble of five actors, with three actors playing multiple characters across the show.

Aumerle is played by South African actor and director Lebogang Fisher, while Richard is portrayed by 2021 LAMDA graduate Daniel Rock, in his professional stage debut, for which he’s received a ‘Best Newcomer’ nomination from the OffWestEnd Awards - the Offies.

Sharing the roles of Henry & Scroop is Antiguan-born actor Raheim Menzies; Mowbray, York, Gardener will be played by the Eswatini/South African veteran Sibusiso Mamba; and Gaunt, Northumberland and Gardener, by Courtney Winston.

DISCOVERY PACK

Accompanying the production, Tangle has created a beautifully illustrated Discovery Pack for schools, teachers, Youth Groups and young people in general.

The pack features an introduction to the play and its themes; learning and activity suggestions for educators and workshop leaders; a look into Tangle’s unique approach to theatremaking; interviews with creatives involved in the show; and information about our special participatory project Seize the Crown.

You can follow the link below to download and share the pack with your audiences, local schools and youth groups.

DISCOVERY PACK

Seize the Crown

Within the Discovery Pack, Tangle has also created an exciting project Seize The Crown; a video response by award-winning poet, performer and educator Mark ‘Mr T’ Thompson to the famous John Gaunt’s speech ‘This royal throne of kings, this scepter'd isle…’ encouraging audiences to make their own short videos.

Tangle is inviting theatre youth groups, schools, poets, writers, actors or anyone who’s moved by our production to take part in the project, and submit their own responses to us via social media using the hashtag #seizethecrown to be shared on Tangle’s social media channels.

Watch ‘Mr T’s video and find a downloadable guide on how to create and post your own video here.

SEIZE THE CROWN

If you would like more information about the project, please contact our Administrative Producer Milan Govedarica.