RSC to Present Staged Reading of THOMAS OF WOODSTOCK, 20 Dec

The Elizabethan play Thomas of Woodstock will have a rehearsed reading on stage at the Barbican during the RSC's run of Gregory Doran's production of Richard II next month.

The play, by an unknown author, covers the events leading up to the murder of Richard II's Uncle which is the focus of the opening scene in Shakespeare's play. It also includes many of the same characters as Shakespeare's Richard II, including the King and his 'favourites' Bushy, Bagot and Green amongst others.

The script in hand production will be directed by Owen Horsley who is the Assistant Director on Richard II, and who will also give an introduction to the play at the start of the performance which is cast with actors from within that show. The two hour performance will be followed by a Q&A, and takes place on the afternoon of Friday 20 December at 2pm with tickets costing £5.00 available from the Barbican box office.

RSC Artistic Director Gregory Doran said, "Thomas of Woodstock is sometimes referred to as Richard II: Part One. It is an anonymous Elizabethan drama which tells the backstory to Shakespeare's play, staging the events leading up to the murder of Richard's Uncle the Duke of Gloucester, brother to John of Gaunt and to the Duke of York. The King is deeply implicated in his death - and this is the unspoken crisis with which Shakespeare opens his play. It's a truly intriguing play".

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