AUDITORIUM

  • HOME

  • OUR STORY

  • FEATURES

  • REVIEWS

  • CONTACT

  • More

    The Curious Case of the Hunchback King

    ✮✮✮ 1/2

    Shakespeare's Richard III

    Trafalgar Studios | London

    directed by Jamie Lloyd

    After a successful string of productions, Jamie Lloyd – a man with one heck of a résumé and the Artistic Director behind Trafalgar Transformed – opens his second season with a piece of casting that’s had not just theatre-goers but fans of The Hobbit and Sherlock titillated with anticipation.

    Martin Freeman, aka Bilbo Baggins and Dr Watson, is a BAFTA award winner, and here leads the cast as the deformed, jealous figure of Richard III. Subtly bringing the deadweight of his lifeless limb to his side in this imagined dystopian 70s Britain, you’ve never seen him so manipulative.

    Historically speaking, the play takes place in the aftermath of the War of the Roses, but leave that at the door. Soutra Gilmour’s design gives us a conference room in which two adjacent tables run parallel, two elevators for side entrances with traditional 12” TVs scattered on four corners blaring news footage. This production takes the houses of Lancaster and York and replaces them with two military coups, both intent on overthrowing the government. In essence then, being King is more like being Prime Minister. Jibing at a horrible moment in Britain’s history with the opening reference to the ‘winter of discontent’ Richard proclaims, “I am determined to prove a villain”, plotting to take what he feels he is owed and destabilizing the nation in the process.

    Lloyd’s direction is filled with adrenaline and conspiracy, all underscored by a drum-filled soundtrack by Ben and Max Ringham. Varying misty colours flood through the elevator doors and pierced bullet holes in lighting designed by Charles Balfour. You can’t help but feel as though you are Sam Fisher of the Splinter Cell franchise, spying on these politicians – their reflections bouncing from sheets of glass angled high above the stage, the production ‘mirroring’ the very actions of the CIA and MI5.

    The major lacking factor is the belief behind the need to survive. At no point during any fight is there the sense of any real threat. Kate Waters’ choreography is far too complex, using too many inanimate objects that quite frankly just get in the way. These are the only times Freeman appears too timid, which is particularly encumbered by the massive disadvantage of his character’s disfigurement. However, right at the end, silhouetted, cornered, contemplating his measly weapon, he jokes “My kingdom for a horse”, and there is a vision of him charging King-like to his demise. And the demise that follows is truly monstrous.

    Even at this play’s intense height, both in action and rhythm, the text is executed with precision and clarity, not only in pace, but in thought. Not a syllable is missed. This production may not be perfect, but the iambic pentameter treads the plot’s trail as well as any Baker Street detective.

    photo | ©Marc Brenner

    #london #trafalgarstudios #shakespeare

    Featured Posts
    Where Do Men Go to Grieve?

    Where Do Men Go to Grieve?

    Autumn Approaches

    Autumn Approaches

    The American Struggle

    The American Struggle

    Now We'll Hear From the Opposition

    Now We'll Hear From the Opposition

    A Family All at Sea

    A Family All at Sea

    Hollywood and the Optimism of Disappointment

    Hollywood and the Optimism of Disappointment

    We Are the World

    We Are the World

    As the Crow Flies

    As the Crow Flies

    Am I or Am I Not?

    Am I or Am I Not?

    The Truth, or Something Beautiful

    The Truth, or Something Beautiful

    {"items":["5fda4a4941e7f9001737e958","5fda4a4941e7f9001737e956","5fda4a4941e7f9001737e954","5fda4a4941e7f9001737e95b","5fda4a4941e7f9001737e953","5fda4a4941e7f9001737e95a","5fda4a4941e7f9001737e959","5fda4a4941e7f9001737e955","5fda4a4941e7f9001737e957","5fda4a4941e7f9001737e95c"],"styles":{"galleryType":"Strips","groupSize":1,"showArrows":true,"cubeImages":true,"cubeType":"fill","cubeRatio":"100%/100%","isVertical":false,"gallerySize":30,"collageDensity":0.8,"groupTypes":"1","oneRow":true,"imageMargin":0,"galleryMargin":0,"scatter":0,"chooseBestGroup":true,"smartCrop":false,"hasThumbnails":false,"enableScroll":true,"isGrid":false,"isSlider":false,"isColumns":false,"isSlideshow":true,"cropOnlyFill":false,"fixedColumns":1,"enableInfiniteScroll":true,"isRTL":false,"minItemSize":120,"rotatingGroupTypes":"","rotatingCropRatios":"","columnWidths":"","gallerySliderImageRatio":1.7777777777777777,"numberOfImagesPerRow":3,"numberOfImagesPerCol":1,"groupsPerStrip":0,"borderRadius":0,"boxShadow":0,"gridStyle":0,"mobilePanorama":false,"placeGroupsLtr":false,"viewMode":"preview","thumbnailSpacings":4,"galleryThumbnailsAlignment":"bottom","isMasonry":false,"isAutoSlideshow":true,"slideshowLoop":false,"autoSlideshowInterval":3,"bottomInfoHeight":0,"titlePlacement":"SHOW_ON_HOVER","galleryTextAlign":"center","scrollSnap":true,"itemClick":"nothing","fullscreen":true,"videoPlay":"hover","scrollAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","slideAnimation":"SCROLL","scrollDirection":1,"scrollDuration":400,"overlayAnimation":"FADE_IN","arrowsPosition":0,"arrowsSize":18,"watermarkOpacity":40,"watermarkSize":40,"useWatermark":true,"watermarkDock":{"top":"auto","left":"auto","right":0,"bottom":0,"transform":"translate3d(0,0,0)"},"loadMoreAmount":"all","defaultShowInfoExpand":1,"allowLinkExpand":true,"expandInfoPosition":0,"allowFullscreenExpand":true,"fullscreenLoop":false,"galleryAlignExpand":"left","addToCartBorderWidth":1,"addToCartButtonText":"","slideshowInfoSize":160,"playButtonForAutoSlideShow":false,"allowSlideshowCounter":false,"hoveringBehaviour":"NEVER_SHOW","thumbnailSize":120,"magicLayoutSeed":1,"imageHoverAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","imagePlacementAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","calculateTextBoxWidthMode":"PERCENT","textBoxHeight":0,"textBoxWidth":200,"textBoxWidthPercent":50,"textImageSpace":10,"textBoxBorderRadius":0,"textBoxBorderWidth":0,"loadMoreButtonText":"","loadMoreButtonBorderWidth":1,"loadMoreButtonBorderRadius":0,"imageInfoType":"ATTACHED_BACKGROUND","itemBorderWidth":0,"itemBorderRadius":0,"itemEnableShadow":false,"itemShadowBlur":20,"itemShadowDirection":135,"itemShadowSize":10,"imageLoadingMode":"BLUR","expandAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","imageQuality":90,"usmToggle":false,"usm_a":0,"usm_r":0,"usm_t":0,"videoSound":false,"videoSpeed":"1","videoLoop":true,"gallerySizeType":"px","gallerySizePx":220,"allowTitle":true,"allowContextMenu":true,"textsHorizontalPadding":-30,"showVideoPlayButton":true,"galleryLayout":5,"targetItemSize":220,"selectedLayout":"5|bottom|1|fill|false|1|true","layoutsVersion":2,"selectedLayoutV2":5,"isSlideshowFont":true,"externalInfoHeight":0,"externalInfoWidth":0},"container":{"width":220,"height":284,"galleryWidth":220,"galleryHeight":123,"scrollBase":0}}
    Recent Posts
    Where Do Men Go to Grieve?

    Where Do Men Go to Grieve?

    Autumn Approaches

    Autumn Approaches

    The American Struggle

    The American Struggle

    Now We'll Hear From the Opposition

    Now We'll Hear From the Opposition

    A Family All at Sea

    A Family All at Sea

    Hollywood and the Optimism of Disappointment

    Hollywood and the Optimism of Disappointment

    We Are the World

    We Are the World

    As the Crow Flies

    As the Crow Flies

    Am I or Am I Not?

    Am I or Am I Not?

    The Truth, or Something Beautiful

    The Truth, or Something Beautiful

    {"items":["5fda4a4941e7f9001737e958","5fda4a4941e7f9001737e956","5fda4a4941e7f9001737e954","5fda4a4941e7f9001737e95b","5fda4a4941e7f9001737e953","5fda4a4941e7f9001737e95a","5fda4a4941e7f9001737e959","5fda4a4941e7f9001737e955","5fda4a4941e7f9001737e957","5fda4a4941e7f9001737e95c"],"styles":{"galleryType":"Columns","groupSize":1,"showArrows":true,"cubeImages":true,"cubeType":"max","cubeRatio":1.7777777777777777,"isVertical":true,"gallerySize":30,"collageAmount":0,"collageDensity":0,"groupTypes":"1","oneRow":false,"imageMargin":22,"galleryMargin":0,"scatter":0,"chooseBestGroup":true,"smartCrop":false,"hasThumbnails":false,"enableScroll":true,"isGrid":true,"isSlider":false,"isColumns":false,"isSlideshow":false,"cropOnlyFill":false,"fixedColumns":0,"enableInfiniteScroll":true,"isRTL":false,"minItemSize":50,"rotatingGroupTypes":"","rotatingCropRatios":"","columnWidths":"","gallerySliderImageRatio":1.7777777777777777,"numberOfImagesPerRow":3,"numberOfImagesPerCol":1,"groupsPerStrip":0,"borderRadius":0,"boxShadow":0,"gridStyle":0,"mobilePanorama":false,"placeGroupsLtr":false,"viewMode":"preview","thumbnailSpacings":4,"galleryThumbnailsAlignment":"bottom","isMasonry":false,"isAutoSlideshow":false,"slideshowLoop":false,"autoSlideshowInterval":4,"bottomInfoHeight":0,"titlePlacement":["SHOW_ON_THE_RIGHT","SHOW_BELOW"],"galleryTextAlign":"center","scrollSnap":false,"itemClick":"nothing","fullscreen":true,"videoPlay":"hover","scrollAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","slideAnimation":"SCROLL","scrollDirection":0,"scrollDuration":400,"overlayAnimation":"FADE_IN","arrowsPosition":0,"arrowsSize":23,"watermarkOpacity":40,"watermarkSize":40,"useWatermark":true,"watermarkDock":{"top":"auto","left":"auto","right":0,"bottom":0,"transform":"translate3d(0,0,0)"},"loadMoreAmount":"all","defaultShowInfoExpand":1,"allowLinkExpand":true,"expandInfoPosition":0,"allowFullscreenExpand":true,"fullscreenLoop":false,"galleryAlignExpand":"left","addToCartBorderWidth":1,"addToCartButtonText":"","slideshowInfoSize":200,"playButtonForAutoSlideShow":false,"allowSlideshowCounter":false,"hoveringBehaviour":"NEVER_SHOW","thumbnailSize":120,"magicLayoutSeed":1,"imageHoverAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","imagePlacementAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","calculateTextBoxWidthMode":"PERCENT","textBoxHeight":60,"textBoxWidth":200,"textBoxWidthPercent":75,"textImageSpace":10,"textBoxBorderRadius":0,"textBoxBorderWidth":0,"loadMoreButtonText":"","loadMoreButtonBorderWidth":1,"loadMoreButtonBorderRadius":0,"imageInfoType":"ATTACHED_BACKGROUND","itemBorderWidth":0,"itemBorderRadius":0,"itemEnableShadow":false,"itemShadowBlur":20,"itemShadowDirection":135,"itemShadowSize":10,"imageLoadingMode":"BLUR","expandAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","imageQuality":90,"usmToggle":false,"usm_a":0,"usm_r":0,"usm_t":0,"videoSound":false,"videoSpeed":"1","videoLoop":true,"gallerySizeType":"px","gallerySizePx":1000,"allowTitle":true,"allowContextMenu":true,"textsHorizontalPadding":-30,"itemBorderColor":{"themeName":"color_12","value":"rgba(230,230,230,0)"},"showVideoPlayButton":true,"galleryLayout":2,"calculateTextBoxHeightMode":"MANUAL","targetItemSize":1000,"selectedLayout":"2|bottom|1|max|true|0|true","layoutsVersion":2,"selectedLayoutV2":2,"isSlideshowFont":true,"externalInfoHeight":60,"externalInfoWidth":0.75},"container":{"width":220,"galleryWidth":242,"galleryHeight":0,"scrollBase":0,"height":null}}
    Archive
    No tags yet.
    Search By Tags
    • June 2019 (1)
    • May 2018 (3)
    • April 2018 (4)
    • March 2018 (3)
    • February 2018 (2)
    • January 2018 (3)
    • December 2017 (1)
    • November 2017 (3)
    • October 2017 (3)
    • September 2017 (4)
    • August 2017 (3)
    • July 2017 (3)
    • June 2017 (4)
    • May 2017 (8)
    • April 2017 (9)
    • March 2017 (13)
    • February 2017 (2)
    • November 2016 (9)
    • October 2016 (10)
    • September 2016 (17)
    • August 2016 (24)
    • July 2016 (9)
    • June 2016 (11)
    • May 2016 (4)
    • April 2016 (3)
    • March 2016 (1)
    • February 2016 (3)
    • January 2016 (2)
    • November 2015 (4)
    • October 2015 (1)
    • September 2015 (4)
    • August 2015 (5)
    • July 2015 (13)
    • June 2015 (8)
    • May 2015 (3)
    • April 2015 (2)
    • March 2015 (6)
    • February 2015 (2)
    • January 2015 (2)
    • December 2014 (4)
    • November 2014 (8)
    • October 2014 (11)
    • September 2014 (10)
    • August 2014 (7)
    • July 2014 (9)
    • June 2014 (7)
    • May 2014 (6)
    • April 2014 (9)
    • March 2014 (4)
    • February 2014 (2)
    • Facebook Round
    • YouTube Round
    • Vimeo - Black Circle
    • Twitter Round
    • Instagram - Black Circle

    © AUDITORIUM EU LTD.