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Draft:List of Actors Who Have Played Richard III

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The role of King Richard III[1] in William Shakespeare's play of the same name is considered to be the most grueling role in the entire canon[2]. This is not because it is the longest play, as that is Hamlet, but for the actor playing Richard they are on stage between 2 to 4 hours depending on the version, and they have only wardrobe breaks and the interval.

As Richard III[3] is considered to be a landmark in many an actor's professional career[4], the following lists offer some insight into who has played the king, where they played it, links to examples of the critical reception was, what age and stage the actor was in their career, and provide some data insights regarding changes in attitudes towards authenticity and portrayal in casting with regards to both gender and disability.

These lists do include performances of The Wars of the Roses (adaptation of William Shakespeare's Henry IV part 1, Henry IV part 2, Henry IV part 3 and Richard III plays), but do not include Richard's appearance as the Duke of Gloucester in Henry IV part 3, as the king in Richard III (1699 play) by Colley Cibber, or the first series of the TV production The Hollow Crown.

British Stage Productions Since 1900[5]

[edit]
Actor Company/Theatre Year of Production Age Playing Richard Disabled
Timothy Dalton Birmingham Repertory Theatre 1966 20 no
Joshua J Parker[6] Barons Court Theatre 2024 unknown yes
Zak Ford-Williams[7] Lyric Theatre, Belfast 2024 25 yes
Robert Sheehan[8] Rose Theatre Kingston 2015 27 no
Eddie Marsan Pleasance Theatre 1997 29 no
Robert Elkin[9] Botanic Gardens, Glasgow 2019 29 no
Arthur Hughes[10] Royal Shakespeare Company 2022 30 yes
Carl Prekopp Love & Madness Ensemble 2010 31 no
Aidan McArdle[11] Royal Shakespeare Company 2001 31 no
Simon Russell Beale[12] Royal Shakespeare Company 1992 31 no
Christopher Plummer Royal Shakespeare Company 1961 32 no
Ian Holm[13] Royal Shakespeare Company 1963 32 no
Michael Patrick[14] Lyric Theatre, Belfast 2024 34 yes
Tom Mothersdale Bristol Old Vic 2019 34 yes
Jonjo O'Neill[15] Royal Shakespeare Company 2012 34 no
Dyfan Dwyfor[16] Rose Theatre, York 2018 34 no
Jonathan Slinger[17] Royal Shakespeare Company 2007 35 no
Antony Sher[18] Royal Shakespeare Company 1984 35 no
Rob Maloney New Venture Theatre, Brighton 2007 35 no
Granville Saxton Salisbury Playhouse 1983 35 no
Mark Peachey[19] Curve Theatre, Leicester 2015 36 no
Paul Daneman The Old Vic 1961 36 no
Anton Lesser Royal Shakespeare Company 1989 37 no
Alfred Lynch Ludlow Castle Open Air Theatre 1968 37 no
Frank Barrie York Theatre Royal 1973 37 no
Laurence Olivier Old Vic 1944 37 no
Richard Briers Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth 1972 38 no
John Mackay[20] Tobacco Factory, Bristol 2013 39 no
Donald Wolfit Strand Theatre, London (now Novello Theatre, London). 1942 40 no
Ciarán Hinds Royal Shakespeare Company 1993 40 no
Frederick Jaeger Connaught Theatre, Worthing 1968 40 no
Norman Rodway Royal Shakespeare Company 1970 41 no
Marius Goring Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon 1953 41 no
Ian Richardson Royal Shakespeare Company 1975 41 no
John Laurie Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon 1939 42 no
Kenneth Branagh[21] The Cruicible, Sheffield 2002 42 no
Andrew Jarvis Old Vic Theatre, London 1989 42 no
Alan Howard Royal Shakespeare Company 1980 43 no
George Hayes Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon 1928 43 no
Martin Freeman[22] Trafalgar Studios, London 2014 43 no
Richard Clothier[23] Lyric Theatre and The Lowry 2011 45 no
Michelle Terry[24] Shakespeare’s Globe (Bankside), London 2024 45 no
David Troughton Royal Shakespeare Company 1995 45 no
Leonard Rossiter Nottingham Playhouse 1971 45 no
Kathryn Hunter[25] Shakespeare’s Globe (Bankside), London 2003 46 yes
Baliol Holloway Prince of Wales Theatre, London 1930 46 no
Gareth Armstrong Derby Playhouse (now Derby Theatre) 1995 47 no
Robert Hirsch Aldwych Theatre, London 1973 48 no
Robert Lindsay Royal Shakespeare Company 1998 49 no
John wood Royal National Theatre 1979 49 no
Ian McKellen Royal National Theatre 1990 51 no
Frederick Peisley Salisbury Playhouse 1955 51 no
Toby Manley[26] Antic Disposition[27] 2017 unknown no
Derek Jacobi Phoenix Theatre, London 1989 51 no
Edward Woodward Ludlow Castle Open Air Theatre 1982 52 no
Henry Goodman[28] Royal Shakespeare Company 2003 53 no
Mark Rylance[29] Shakespeare’s Globe (Bankside), London 2013 53 no
Kevin Spacey[30] The Old Vic 2012 53 no
Alan Badel St George’s Theatre, Tufnell Park 1976 53 no
Ralph Fiennes[31] Almedia Theatre 2016 54 no
Mat Fraser[32] Hull Truck Theatre 2017 55 yes
Ian Bartholomew[33] Nottingham Playhouse and York Theatre Royal 2013 59 no
Adjoa Andoh[34] Rose Theatre, Kingston 2023 60 no
F R Benson Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon 1919 61 no
Greg Hicks[35] Arcola Theatre 2017 64 no

Screen Adaptations and Filmed Live Performances

[edit]
Actor Production Title Year of Production Disabled
Ian McKellen Richard III 1995 no
Laurence Olivier Richard III 1955 no
Ralph Fiennes Almeida Theatre Live: Richard III 2016 no
Benedict Cumberbatch The Hollow Crown 2016 no
Lars Eidinger Richard III 2015 no
Ron Cook Richard III 1983 no
Scott Anderson Richard III 2007 no
Colm Feore Richard III 2023 no
Frederick Warde Richard III 1912 no
Péter Haumann III. Richárd 1973 no
Ariel García Valdés Richard III 1986 no
Montgomery Sutton Richard III 2020 no
Ramaz Chkhikvadze Richard III 1982 no
Wolfgang Kieling König Richard III 1964 no
Ian Holm The War of The Roses 1965 no
  1. ^ "Homepage - Richard III Society". 2020-01-29. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  2. ^ "Fast Facts". Bell Shakespeare. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  3. ^ "Richard III | Royal Shakespeare Company". www.rsc.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  4. ^ "5 Notable Theatre Performances of Richard III". History Hit. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  5. ^ Dickson, Andrew (2011-06-29). "Richard III, from Laurence Olivier to Kevin Spacey – in pictures". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  6. ^ London, The Reviews Hub- (2024-02-09). "The Life and Death of Richard III - Barons Court Theatre, London". The Reviews Hub. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  7. ^ O'Rourke, Chris (2024-10-27). "Belfast International Arts Festival 2024: The Tragedy of Richard III with Zak Ford-Williams". theartsreview. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  8. ^ Taylor, Paul (2015-10-06). "The Wars of the Roses, Rose Theatre, Kingston, review: Engrossing production is warmly recommended". The Independent. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  9. ^ Fisher, Mark (2019-07-21). "Hamlet/Richard III review – all is angry in the garden". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  10. ^ "Arthur Hughes: First disabled Richard III is 'big gesture' from RSC". BBC News. 2022-06-17. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  11. ^ "Theatre review: Richard III at Young Vic". British Theatre Guide. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  12. ^ Billington, Michael (2018-12-19). "The Tragedy of King Richard the Second review – Simon Russell Beale's king sold short". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  13. ^ "c) Richard III - Ian Holm - The War of The Roses III - 1965 - 4K". shakespearenetwork.net. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  14. ^ Webster, Lucy (2024-10-11). "'It's a tragedy because everyone dies – not because he's disabled': the creatives casting Richard III in a new light". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  15. ^ "Theatre review: Richard III at Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon". British Theatre Guide. 2012-03-22. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  16. ^ "Review: Richard III (Shakespeare's Rose Theatre, York)". 2018-07-10. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  17. ^ "Theatre review: Richard III at The Roundhouse". British Theatre Guide. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  18. ^ "The Big Interview: Antony Sher". The Stage. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  19. ^ "Theatre review: Richard III at Curve Theatre, Leicester". British Theatre Guide. 2015-07-25. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  20. ^ Gardner, Lyn (2013-02-21). "Richard III – review". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  21. ^ "The Kenneth Branagh Compendium: Richard III". www.branaghcompendium.com. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  22. ^ Clapp, Susannah (2014-07-12). "Richard III review – Martin Freeman is a contained and cautious king". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  23. ^ "Theatre review: Richard III at King's Theatre, Edinburgh, and touring". British Theatre Guide. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  24. ^ "Theatre feature: Is Michelle Terry fit to play Richard III?". British Theatre Guide. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  25. ^ Gardner, Lyn (2003-06-13). "Richard III". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  26. ^ "Richard III review, Temple Church, London, 2017". The Stage. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  27. ^ "Antic Disposition | Richard III". www.anticdisposition.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  28. ^ Billington, Michael (2003-07-24). "Richard III". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  29. ^ "Review of Richard III with Mark Rylance at the Shakespeare Globe Theatre". London Theatre. 2016-06-08. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  30. ^ Benedictus, Leo (2011-06-30). "What to say about ... Kevin Spacey in Richard III". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  31. ^ Hitchings, Henry (2016-06-17). "Richard III, review: Fiennes chillingly portrays nightmarish monarch". The Standard. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  32. ^ Hickling, Alfred (2017-05-08). "Mat Fraser on playing Richard III: 'I'd begun to feel like yesterday's cripple'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  33. ^ "Theatre review: Richard III at York Theatre Royal". British Theatre Guide. 2013-11-19. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  34. ^ Aubrey, Elizabeth (2023-04-25). "Adjoa Andoh on Richard III, Bridgerton and colourblind casting". The Standard. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  35. ^ "Theatre review: Richard III". Counterfire. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
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