We live in a world that favours a very short attention span. Find some appealing video nuggets on social media and it is seen as acceptable to break your concentration with banal adverts. So putting on a Shakespeare play seems a more daunting prospect than ever, given the richness of the language, the complexity of the plots and the sheer density of drama. For some the archaic nature of the phrases can be challenging too.

On the other hand Shakespeare is a uniquely high achiever in the business of filling theatre seats, and this excellent production reminds us why. Richard II is on the list of the least performed Shakespeare plays, which is a mystery to me. I have never seen it live before, and I am glad I have now. Sewell Barn Theatre are known to like a challenge and they have taken this lesser known script and made an absolute belter of a production.

Richard II is a history lesson about the politics of power and privilege, with a big dose of the divine right lobbed in for good measure. It is arguably more historically accurate than some of the Bard’s best, and catalogues the events towards the end of a very odd life. Richard succeeded to the throne at ten years old but was dead before he reached 34. As with other young monarchs he was shaped by his advisers for good and bad, and these relationships form the background to this drama. We are familiar with the names of some characters, but many of us would struggle to say why they are names that still resound centuries later.

The heart of the plot is Richard’s rather capricious response to the earlier challenges of his courtiers and wealthy dukes. Like a few monarchs before and after his finances have not kept pace with his warlike campaigns and poor management, so he eyes the estates of the super wealthy. Long story short, the rich never yield their wealth willingly.

Director Sabrina Poole has picked a cast who bring well defined character to build on Shakespeare’s script and add interest to an already gripping drama. Jez Pike is mesmerising as Richard, with a stary eyed intensity that reminded me of a host of performers from Graham Norton to Emo Philips managing to be both frighteningly megalomaniac and pathetically vulnerable almost in the same breath. His is a landmark performance. We see a sprinkling of dukes and royal servants and officers, some loyal to their cause throughout, others sliding their allegiances to wherever they see their best chance. David Newham is John of Gaunt, previously very close to Richard but now tormented by the king’s banishment of his son Bolingbroke (Ruby Bardwell-Dix). Upon his demise Richard tries to seize his vast wealth and estates, but this brings Bolingbroke back from exile accompanied by a deadly army that puts the King and his forces on the run. Ruby Bardwell-Dix gives Bolingbroke a nervous energy and intensity that befits the main protagonist against an increasingly unhinged despotic monarch.

All of the eighteen strong cast make space to present their own distinct characters, and they work well as an ensemble with crisp timing and some nice amusing details in their performances. There are sword fights and murders aplenty, all done stylishly. The close proximity of the audience to the action makes these all the more thrilling. I think all the audience departed intact on the evening I was there, but there were some close escapes!

As ever the set design contributed effectively to the atmosphere in the theatre. Entering we see what looks at first like an enormous white Marigold glove, in fact a cloth banner in the shape of a hand that denotes the royal throne beneath. It works surprisingly well, supported by clever use of dramatic lighting and music.

Set in 1399 we see the problem of huge power vested in an increasingly unstable individual who lacks the hinterland of good advice, being surrounded by hapless sycophants and this brings about his undoing. Draw your own conclusions as to the relevance of this to events on the world stage today.

The Sewell Barn Company have crafted a superb production of this lesser known Shakespeare play and I am grateful that they have introduced me to it in such great style. The complex plot is easy to follow but still full of unexpected twists and turns and sub-plots reflecting the cut throat politics of the English court and the dark forces of the organised church driving their own agenda along. It gives an insight into both Richard’s story and the cold blooded ruthlessness of the English aristocracy. Don’t miss this show!

© Julian Swainson
Norwich Eye
17 January 2025

Richard II plays at Sewell Barn Theatre 16-18 & 22-25 January at 7.30 pm with a matinée on 25 Jan at 2.30
Go to www.sewellbarn.org for tickets