“Not all the water in the rough rude sea
Can wash the balm off from an anointed king.”
So exclaims King Richard in Act 3, when he returns from putting down rebels in Ireland, to find that in his absence the exiled Henry Bolingbroke has landed with an invasive force and that many have flocked to Bolingbroke’s support. Richard and his supporters believe that he is a divinely ordained king, whose authority is upheld by God and who cannot lawfully be deposed.
But Richard has not governed well and is thought by others to have abused his power and wronged some of his subjects, in particular Bolingbroke himself, who claims to come to recover his rights. So the play confronts a debate, repeated several times in the history of this country, about monarchical and political legitimacy. Who is right? The anointed king who insists on his divinely sanctioned claim to the throne but who abuses his power and ignores traditional legal principles, or the victim of the king’s abuse but who has no legal right to the throne and is a usurper?
In Shakespeare’s play the issues are dramatically presented through the clash between two forceful characters and their supporters, some of whom find it difficult to know what best to do. The King’s uncle, the Duke of York, in particular goes through agonies of doubt and indecision. Matters are further clouded by the way Bolingbroke in his turn treats his conquered opponents.
This is a 16th century play about a 14th century king, but the deposition of established rulers is an enduring theme today. To reflect this, we have placed our production in a ‘timeless’ visual milieu. We have also tried to bring out the play’s richness – not only the political drama, underlined by Andrew Hurrell’s specially written music, but also the poignancy, the humour – and the poetry.
This is one of only four Shakespeare plays written entirely in verse. It contains some of the most luminous poetry in our language, with highly formal and ritualistic set-pieces contrasting with intimate exchanges, notably in the parting scene between Richard and his Queen, rudely interrupted by the Earl of Northumberland.
Whether you like to grapple with challenging issues, love listening to superb language, or just like a good story, you should not miss this great play.