Shakespeare: Richard II

Press Reviews

"David Tennant is mesmerising in the first show of Gregory Doran's six-year plan to present all of Shakespeare's works. A beautifully crafted, richly detailed production. " (The Guardian)

"Gregory Doran's exceptional production is a rousing triumph." (The Observer)

"David Tennant gives a bravado performance of a multi-layered, complex and intelligent medieval king in Shakespeare's masterful history play. Gregory Doran's production is superbly orchestrated. This is a lucid, moving production packed with tremendous performances. From Michael Pennington's John of Gaunt, the last great Englishman, to Oliver Ford Davies's wonderfully bewildered Duke of York." (The Daily Express)

"One of the hottest tickets of the year." (The Times)

"A lucid and gripping account of Richard II. David Tennant is in splendid form here. In his gorgeous, gold-embroidered robes, this Richard is wrapped in the mystique of medieval majesty.

There isn't a weak link in the cast. Ferocious eloquence overcomes deathbed infirmity in Michael Pennington's superb portrayal of John of Gaunt, and Oliver Ford Davies gives a fine edge of grumpy comedy to the Duke of York's conscience-stricken dithering." (The Independent)

"David Tennant delivers a vivid, intelligent performance in Gregory Doran's clear, detailed and dynamic production. One of the year's hottest tickets. Oliver Ford Davies's Duke of York is an unalloyed delight." (The Evening Standard)

"Michael Pennington is little short of magnificent as John of Gaunt." (The Daily Telegraph)

"Nigel Lindsay's Bolingbroke is a palpably dangerous figure... Jane Lapotaire turns the Duchess of Gloucester into a silver-haired figure whose widowed grief manifests itself in a burning appetite for revenge." (The Guardian)

"A fine, restrained Michael Pennington gives desperate dignity to John of Gaunt's lush sceptred isle and silver sea lament for England. Emma Hamilton brings a lovely grace to the small, beguiling part of Richard's wife. As the Duke of York, Oliver Ford Davies is radiantly authentic. He delivers many speeches as if he were quietly arguing with himself and the audience were eavesdropping. When he erupts into violent confrontation he is shattering." (The Observer)

Cast
David Tennant (Richard II)
Michael Pennington (John of Gaunt)
Jane Lapotaire (Duchess of Gloucester)
Oliver Ford Davies (Duke of York)
Oliver Rix (Aumerle)
Nigel Lindsay (Bolingbroke)
Emma Hamilton (The Queen)

Stage Director: Gregory Doran
Designer: Stephen Brimson Lewis

Catalogue Number: OA1142D
Date of Performance: 2013
Running Time: 162 mins minutes
Sound: 24 bit LPCM / 5.1 DTS Master Audio HD
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Anamorphic
Subtitles: EN/FR/DE
Label: Opus Arte"