Review: RICHARD II, Arcola Theatre, May 3 2016

This Richard is a thoroughly 21st century political operator, a man accustomed to wielding power and surrounded by lackeys who tell him what he wants to hear. But things are not going well, a rival eased out in unexplained circumstances and two more at loggerheads - should he sack them both? Soon his leadership is unraveling, as rival factions vie for power and he must await the fate of Mrs Thatcher - to be gone, but not at a time of his choosing.

Except it isn't quite like that in Jack Gamble and Quentin Beroud's Richard II (at the Arcola Theatre until 7 May). The dropping in of 24/7 news updates on television screens, allied to the mobiles and iPads at hand and the introduction of an aggressive TV reporter, all works well to demonstrate that Shakespeare's account of the fall of a 14th-century king has plenty of relevance today. Nevertheless, the staging continually jars with the language, distractingly so for me. Shakespeare is nothing if not physical, and a debate is not a duel, a sacking not a murder, a party coup not a civil war - the action described is more akin to that witnessed at the court of Nicolae Ceaucescu or Saddam Hussein, rather than that of a slick Westminster insider like this Richard.

That said, there's much to enjoy and admire in this production. Tim Delap is very good as Richard, at first a ditherer and then, once there is nothing to lose and the game is up, a philosophical and wise, if exhausted, regal figure. Hermione Gulliford brings plenty of Theresa May's steely ambition to the role of Harri Bolingbroke, her eyes flashing towards the crown hovering literally just out of reach as Richard prevaricates over his intentions. There's room too for David Acton to deliver a fine cameo as an Irish political pundit, a turn that brings some much needed light relief to the tragedy.

So this is a Shakespeare cut for focus and transported forwards in time, but with its beautiful language (the verse is quite something and given full value by the actors) retained and its message about the fragility of leaders intact. As the UK goes to the polls to decide on its future relationship with Europe, David Cameron must wonder about Richard's equivocation over the dispute between Mowbray and Bolingbroke and his own placating of his party's riven factions and wonder if Richard's fate will be his come the Autumn.

Photo Robert Workman

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