British Universities Film & Video Council

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Tragedy of King Richard II, The

Alternative title
Richard II
Synopsis
Television presentation of the Prospect Theatre Company’s production of the play. A thoughtful and successful attempt to transfer a popular stage production to the televison screen. Ian McKellen gives a highly sensitive and exciting performance as Richard. This is the first televised production of McKellen in a Shakespeare play.
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Medium
Television
Technical information
Colour / Sound
Transmission details
30 Jul 1970 at 21:00 (Channel: BBC2)
Duration
125 mins

Credits

Director
Toby Robertson
Producer
Mark Shivas
Writer
William Shakespeare
Music
Benjamin Pierce Higgins
Costume
Juanita Waterson; Tim Goodchild
Art Direction
Tony Abbott
Cast
Ian McKellenKing Richard II
Lucy FlemingQueen Isabel
Paul HardwickJohn of Gaunt
Timothy WestBolingbroke
Charmian EyreDuchess of Gloucester
Andrew CrawfordBishop of Carlisle
Charmian EyreLady attending the Queen
Colin FisherGardener’s man (1)
Colin FisherBushy
David CalderLord Ross
David CalderGroom of King Richard’s stable
David NicholasServant to York
James LaurensonSir Piers Exton
Jeremy NicholasGardener’s man (2)
John CordingServant to Exton
Luke HardyBagot
Michael GodfreyGardener
Michael GodreyKeeper of the prison at Pomfret
Michael SpiceLord Willoughby
Myles ReithermannHarry Percy
Peggy Thorpe-BatesDuchess of York
Peter BourneAbbot of Westminster
Peter BourneGreen
Richard MorantEarl of Salisbury
Robert EddisonEdmund of Langley, Duke of York
Stephen GreifCaptain of the Welsh army
Stephen GreifThomas Mowbray
Terence WiltonDuke of Aumerle
Trevor MartinHenry Percy, Earl of Northumberland

Additional Details

Theatre company
Prospect Theatre Company
Production type
Stage Recordings
Plays
Richard II
Subjects
Drama
Keywords
Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); Edinburgh Festival

Notes

Notes
The BBC Audience Research Viewing Panel Report noted a production that was ‘gripping, entertaining, moving and believable’.
General
The Prospect Theatre Company performed the play for the 1969 Edinburgh Festival. before a countrywide tour, accompaning the controversial production of Marlowe’s Edward II, which was broadcast the following week (6 August 1970) . McKellen played Edward. The stage production of Richard II was directed by Richard Cottrell. Television director, Toby Robertson, was closely involved with the stage productions of both Richard II and Edward II.
Figures
The play was watched by 5.8% of the BBC2 audience.

Production Company

Name

BBC

Notes
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Archive

Name

BFI National Archive

Web
http://www.bfi.org.uk/archive-collections/searching-access-collections/research-viewing-services External site opens in new window
Phone
020 7255 1444
Fax
020 7436 0165
Address
21 Stephen Street
London
W1T 1LN

Record Stats

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