The Stratford Festival's RICHARD III Starring Colm Feore is Coming to Cineplex Theatres This April

The Stratford Festival's latest film, Richard III, featuring Colm Feore in the title role, will première in Cineplex theatres across Canada on April 16, with encore screenings on April 17. Directed for the stage by Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino and for the screen by Barry Avrich, the production shines new light on Shakespeare's tale of lethal ambition.

The film also gives people nationwide an opportunity to experience the spectacular new Tom Patterson Theatre, winner of five major architectural awards.

"Shakespeare's work is very cinematic in its structure and this play, with its ruthless, cunning and charismatic protagonist, translates brilliantly to the big screen," says Cimolino. "Colm Feore gives a masterful performance as Richard and is supported by powerful performances by our finest actors."

The cast includes Sean Arbuckle as Earl Rivers, Michael Blake as George, Duke of Clarence, Ben Carlson as Lord William Hastings, David Collins as Lord Stanley (Earl of Derby), Jessica B. Hill as Lady Anne, Diana Leblanc as Duchess of York, Seana McKenna as Queen Margaret, Lucy Peacock as Queen Elizabeth, André Sills as Duke of Buckingham and Emilio Vieira as Sir William Catesby.

"When you combine the brilliant and iconic Shakespeare prose with the unbridled power of Colm Feore, the result is pure cinematic bliss," says Avrich, who is also the producer of the film. "After producing and directing close to 20 of these filmed productions, this one is a career highlight for me."

Shakespeare's Richard - the Duke of Gloucester when the play begins - is the embodiment of lethal ambition, manoeuvering and murdering his way to the throne of England. But once he has reached the top, the only way left to go is down - and in Richard's growing roster of vengeful enemies, none are more menacing than the ghosts of his past.

"The historical Richard, like Shakespeare's tyrant," says Cimolino, "was defeated and killed. But he was replaced by a much more sophisticated police state, under regimes that were more cruel and more effective at political manipulation. The text of Richard III is an example of that manipulation. Yet it is also a subversive indictment of tyranny, revealing the tricks used to deceive and manipulate."

Richard III is presented as part of Cineplex Events, which brings world-class entertainment to theatres across Canada and provides guests with a front-row seat to a variety of unique events. Communities large and small can experience the best in original one-night-only and series-based programming from around the globe. Programming includes opera direct from The Met: Live in HD, stage events from Stratford Festival and National Theatre Live, concerts from top artists and musicians, sporting events, esports, documentaries, classic films and more! Additional information is available at Cineplex.com/Events.

You can find a full list of Cineplex theatres screening Richard III below.

Richard III will be available on CBC and CBC Gem this spring.

This fall Richard III is coming to Stratfest@Home, the Stratford Festival's streaming platform. Subscribe to Stratfest@Home for just $10 a month and gain access to the best in Canadian digital theatrical productions, including the Stratford Festival's acclaimed Shakespeare films, selected productions from the 2021 and 2022 seasons, original digital content, and selected events from the Festival's Meighen Forum, along with documentaries and original content from across the country.

Photo credit: David Hou