Richard II: The Deposing of a King

Summary

1960 BBC production of Richard II: The Deposing of a King by Shakespeare, the second in the fifteen-part series An Age of Kings which was the BBC’s great national pageant of eight history plays.

Theatre play

Richard II by William Shakespeare [more information]

Play synopsis

The play is the first part of a tetralogy of four works, sometimes referred to as the Henriad, about the House of Lancaster. The following three plays, Henry IV Part 1, Henry IV Part 2 and Henry V are about Richard’s successors.

RSC synopsis (from http://www.rsc.org.uk/explore/shakespeare/plays/richard-ii-synopsis.aspx):
In the presence of King Richard, Henry Bullingbrook (who would eventually be Henry IV) accuses Thomas Mowbray (Duke of Norfolk) of embezzling crown funds and of plotting the death of his uncle, the Duke of Gloucester. They will not be reconciled and are about to fight, but Richard stops the combat before it can begin. Bullingbrook is exiled for ten years (later reduced to six); Mowbray is exiled for life. John of Gaunt (Duke of Lancaster, uncle to the king and Bullingbrook’s father) dies after accusing Richard of improper government. Richard orders the seizure of Gaunt’s property, denying Bullingbrook his inheritance. He then departs for Ireland, appointing his other uncle York to govern in his absence. The Duke of Northumberland reveals that Bullingbrook has returned to England with an army. Bullingbrook persuades his uncle York that he has returned for his rightful inheritance, not to start a rebellion against the crown. Richard returns from Ireland to discover that his Welsh troops have deserted him, that York has allied himself with Bullingbrook, and the common people are rising against him. Bullingbrook and his supporters meet with Richard. Bullingbrook promises to surrender his arms if his banishment is repealed and his inheritance restored. Richard agrees to his demands. Richard’s cousin, the Duke of Aumerle, is accused of murdering the Duke of Gloucester. Bullingbrook arrests everyone involved in the allegations. Richard agrees to abdicate. Bullingbrook announces his coronation. A plot is hatched to restore Richard to the throne. York discovers that his son Aumerle is involved in a plot to kill Bullingbrook. Aumerle confesses to Bullingbrook, and is pardoned. Richard is killed whilst imprisoned in Pomfret Castle. Bullingbrook receives news of his supporters’ efforts to defeat his detractors. Exton presents Richard’s body to Bullingbrook, only to be rewarded with banishment. Bullingbrook promises to undertake a pilgrimage to expiate his sins.

Production history

Thought to have been written around 1595.

Date of transmission

Thursday 12 May 1960

Time

9.00-10.00pm

Series

Age of Kings

Channel

BBC Television

Production company

BBC

Credits

Director

Michael Hayes

Producer

Peter Dews

Playwright

William Shakespeare

Composer

Arthur Bliss (title music)

Composer

Christopher Whelen

Designer

Stanley Morris

Cast

David Andrews	unnamed part
Eileen Atkins	Attendant to the Queen
Maggie Barton	Attendant to the Queen
Geoffrey Bayldon	Edmund of Langley
Jeremy Bisley	unnamed part
Barry Cawtheray	unnamed part
Sean Connery	Harry Percy
Juliet Cooke	Queen to King Richard
George A. Cooper	Earl of Norhtumberland
Michael Graham Cox	Abbot of Westminster / Keeper
Pamela Craig	unnamed part
Kenneth Farrington	unnamed part
Tom Fleming	Henry Bolingbroke
Patrick Garland	unnamed part
Julian Glover	Groom
Gordon Gostelow	A Gardener
John Greenwood	Duke of Aumerle
Timothy Harley	unnamed part
Peter Holmes	unnamed part
Robert Lang	Sir Pierce of Exton
Mary Law	Duchess of York
John Levitt	unnamed part
Terence Lodge	A Servant
Brian McIrvin	unnamed part
John H. Moore	unnamed part
William Patenall	unnamed part
John Ringham	unnamed part
Alan Rowe	unnamed part
John Murray Scott	unnamed part
Terry Scully	unnamed part
Tony Selby	unnamed part
Leon Shepperdson	unnamed part
Brian Smith	unnamed part
Anthony Valentine	Servant to Exton
Terry Wale	unnamed part
Derek Ware	unnamed part
David William	King Richard the Second
Jerome Willis	unnamed part
Frank Windsor	Bishop of Carlisle
Edgar Wreford	unnamed part
Julian Yardley	unnamed part

Additional details

Play tags

historical drama; royalty

Audiovisual sources

Title

The Deposing of a King: Richard II (BBC, 1960)

Archive

BBC Information and Archives [more information]

Address

White City
London
UK

Telephone

+44 (0)20 8008 2288

Website

http://www.bbc.co.uk/informationandarchives/

Access

BBC Information and Archives is not open to the public.

Title

An Age of Kings: Eight History Plays by William Shakespeare

Commercial availability

Released in 2013 by Illuminations in the Screen Plays series

Print sources

Title

Adapting the Histories: An Age of Kings on Screen (Essay)

Author/creator

John Wyver (Author)

Reference

Published as the booklet essay accompanying the commercially available DVD set An Age of Kings: Eight History Plays by William Shakespeare, released by Illuminations in the Screen Plays series.

Title

An Age of Kings: ‘this English blood’ (Blog article)

Author/creator

John Wyver (Author)

Reference

http://screenplaystv.wordpress.com/2009/07/15/an-age-of-kings-this-english-blood, published 15 July 2009

Title

Radio Times, 22 April 1960 (Magazine)

Linking notes

cover image; article, p. 3

Title

Radio Times, 6 May 1960 (Magazine)

Linking notes

listing, p. 15

Associated programmes

Richard II: The Hollow Crown (BBC, 1960)
Richard II by William Shakespeare
BBC Television (Age of Kings)

Henry IV, Part 1: Rebellion from the North (BBC, 1960)
Henry IV, Part 1 by William Shakespeare
BBC Television (Age of Kings)

Henry IV, Part 1: The Road to Shrewsbury (BBC, 1960)
Henry IV, Part 1 by William Shakespeare
BBC Television (Age of Kings)

Henry IV, Part 2: The New Conspiracy (BBC, 1960)
Henry IV, Part 2 by William Shakespeare
BBC Television (Age of Kings)

Henry IV, Part 2: Uneasy Lies the Head (BBC, 1960)
Henry IV, Part 2 by William Shakespeare
BBC Television (Age of Kings)

Henry V: Signs of War (BBC, 1960)
King Henry V by William Shakespeare
BBC Television (Age of Kings)

Henry V: The Band of Brothers (BBC, 1960)
King Henry V by William Shakespeare
BBC Television (Age of Kings)

Henry VI, Part 1: The Red Rose and the White (BBC, 1960)
Henry VI, Part 1 by William Shakespeare
BBC Television (Age of Kings)

Henry VI, Part 2: The Fall of a Protector (BBC, 1960)
Henry VI, Part 2 by William Shakespeare
BBC Television (Age of Kings)

Henry VI, Part 2: The Rabble from Kent (BBC, 1960)
Henry VI, Part 2 by William Shakespeare
BBC Television (Age of Kings)

Henry VI, Part 3: The Morning’s War (BBC, 1960)
Henry VI, Part 3 by William Shakespeare
BBC Television (Age of Kings)

Henry VI, Part 3: The Sun in Splendour (BBC, 1960)
Henry VI, Part 3 by William Shakespeare
BBC Television (Age of Kings)

Richard III: The Dangerous Brother (BBC, 1960)
Richard III by William Shakespeare
BBC Television (Age of Kings)

Richard III: The Boar Hunt (BBC, 1960)
Richard III by William Shakespeare
BBC Television (Age of Kings)