14/05/2025
Nicolas Hytner update does not work, taking what is more a tragic situation, where a man believes in his divine right to rule, having known nothing else since the age of 10, and turns it into farce.
Problem with contemporising Shakespeare's histories, where historic context is everything.
An update of a tragedy may have more scope and relevance...treating Richard II as merely vain and frivolous just misses the impact of the usurper on circumstances at and about the time and it's values depicted.
Jonathan Bailey plays the title role in this new production directed by Nicholas Hytner
