Shakespeare's Richard II - casting a king (part 1 of 3)

Clips from three versions -- Sir Ian McKellen (1970 TV), Sir Derek Jacobi (1978 TV) and Fiona Shaw (1997 TV) -- are utilized in explorations of various issues in casting Shakespeare's young king.

commentary by Jerry Brotton, Royal Holloway, University of London...and Wendy Spon, Head of Casting at the Royal National Theatre.

Ian McKellen ... Richard II
Timothy West ... Bolingbroke

Directed by Richard Cottrell and Toby Robertson for early (1970) BBC colour transmission.

This is about the youngest Ian McKellen (age 31 in '70) we can view. He did have some parts in movies released in 1969. McKellen's earliest film/TV credits are for some TV work in 1964 and '65 which I bet would be very difficult to locate and view now.

Ian McKellen also performed, on TV in early 70s, George Tesman in "Hedda Gabler" with Janet Suzman, a Hamlet, a one-man show on Keats, and starred in Marlowe's "Edward II". These are begging for DVD release!

Charles Gray ... Duke of York
Derek Jacobi ... Richard II
John Gielgud ... John of Gaunt

Director: David Giles



Fiona Shaw ... Richard II
Richard Bremmer ... Henry Bolingbroke

Directed by Deborah Warner for TV, 1997.

King Richard the Second, a history play by William Shakespeare, is called "The tragedie of King Richard the second" in the 1597 Quarto.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Shakespeare
• Richard-II
• Ian-McKellen
• Fiona-Shaw
• John-Gielgud
• Derek-Jacobi
• theatre
• play
• Richard2
• Shakespearean-histories
• performing
• arts

[steerpike66]

I am endlessly grateful for these uploads. I wish I could get the full McKellen and Shaw Richards.

[penguinsloveDW]

The lady at the beginning says "...this section of the video...", what video isthis exactly? I'd like to see all of it.

[francescamesca]

Does this keep freezing every minute or so on anyone else? I have to keep switching between about three different versions of this and it's getting so annoying!

[catherinemariaharris]

Thank you so much for posting this

[MrWilum]

This is simply wonderful! How fascinating to see Fiona Shaw's Richard even if merely in bits and snippets. Thank you!

[penguinsloveDW]

Many people are not, which is unfortunate. It has some wonderful parts and speeches in it, and it provides a good basis for the rest of the history plays. I'm glad you're interested in it!

[EvilEddtheRed]

Kevin spacey was exellent as Richard II in the production at the ld vic a couple of years ago. The accent slipped slightly a couple of times, but his presence nd inhabitation of the character meant it really didn't matter.

[wgaule]

This fascinating, I would like to watch all three productions in their entirety. It is a Shakespeare play that I am not so familiar with

[artj22850]

Wonderful! These helps me to understand much more about this play; I read it a few years ago, along with the history plays. This sheds new light on 'Richard II'; we probably will be discussing this on my literature site in 09. These will be very helpful. Thanks so much! Commentary is very helpful/insightful.

[bodder777]

Yea ShakespeareAndMore - you keep taking us up. More please.