• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Meet the Team
  • Contact us
TLE ONLINE SHOP!
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
NEWSLETTER
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home Entertainment Arts

Theatre Review: Richard III at the Almeida

Far be it from me to associate a political vacuum and conniving self-promotion with current members of The Conservative party, but there’s something very ‘Brexit’ about Shakespeare’s Richard III. The infamous Gloucester returns to stage at the Almeida Theatre portrayed by Ralph Fiennes who encapsulates every dirty trick, selfish move and each wry smile of […]

Jack Peat by Jack Peat
2016-06-30 14:14
in Arts, Entertainment
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmailWhatsapp

Far be it from me to associate a political vacuum and conniving self-promotion with current members of The Conservative party, but there’s something very ‘Brexit’ about Shakespeare’s Richard III.

The infamous Gloucester returns to stage at the Almeida Theatre portrayed by Ralph Fiennes who encapsulates every dirty trick, selfish move and each wry smile of the scheming Duke with panache as he rapes, murders and manoeuvres his way to the throne.

The old King wouldn’t look at all out of place in today’s fractious political landscape. A Prime Minister who selfishly sacrificed the national interest to secure a Commons majority only to be outmanoeuvred by a former Etonian chum who was then ousted by a co-Brexiteer. It’s Machiavellianism at its best.

Which makes Rupert Goold’s modern adaption all the more gripping. An archaeological dig welcomes punters as they filter in to the theatre in reference to the recent excavation of Richard III’s body in a car park in Leicester, and cast members don contemporary wears and even use smart phones.

It intends to be modern, and it intends to be of relevance to the current political landscape. As City AM’s Steve Dineen notes, it is “the ideal play for these post-facts times, where rhetoric is no longer anchored to reality and fear is the prevailing political currency”. As Donald Trump threatens to hijack the US political system with his contorted brand of republicanism and “acts of unspeakable violence play out with crushing regularity in the name of fear and hatred” it is fair to say that we have never been “so close to the winter of our discontent”.

Fiennes is joined by a strong cast which includes such heavyweights as Vanessa Redgrave, Finbar Lynch, Aislín McGuckin, Daniel Cerqueira and Simon Coates. Aside from its clear political connotations, the treatment of women is a focal issue which comes to a head when the misogynist Richard violently rapes Elizabeth on stage, a scene that stands out compared to the more timid treatment of murder.

Although critics have been quick to disregard this as unnecessary, it underpins Fiennes’s interpretation of Richard as an assertively masculine character with a ruthless contempt for women. That, linked with its timeless undertones of geo-political unpleasantness, makes this a very worthwhile watch.

RelatedPosts

Why Women Suck By Rhi Clare

Why Christianity Must Stop Treating Women As a Second Sex

The biggest band you’ve never heard of? Celtic-punkers The Dreadnoughts release new album

Sex Pistols to re-release God Save The Queen to mark platinum jubilee

Tags: featured

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Trending on TLE

  • All
  • trending
Abdollah

‘Rescue us’: Afghan teacher begs UK to help him escape Taliban

CHOMSKY: “If Corbyn had been elected, Britain would be pursuing a much more sane course”

What If We Got Rid Of Prisons?

More from TLE

Eastern Boys – Film Review

“Nursing is often seen as the beating heart of the NHS…the beating heart is badly in need of a cardiologist.” Professor Rafferty, Kings College London

Private hospitals provided handful of Covid beds despite taxpayer billions

Tommy Robinson held by police investigating ‘assault’

STORM AILEEN -UK hit by its first named storm. But photos not as dramatic as Aileen’s cousins across the Atlantic…

Shocking pics show huge mounds of fly-tipped waste weighing the same as EIGHT elephants

Mersey ‘more polluted than the Great Pacific Garbage patch’

‘Who is president Biden asking to fight?’ – Rory Stewart’s devastating summary of Afghan chaos goes viral

No prizes for guessing which MP was first to support PM over partygate fine

Piers says free speech is a ‘hill I’m happy to die on’ as ‘very different’ GMB airs

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.