This 'Richard III' made glorious summer viewing, by Iris Theatre

(image © savannah photographic)

By Sophia Longhi

With its summer production of Shakespeare's Richard III, the Iris Theatre offers us Shakespeare as, I believe, it was intended to be experienced. Stripped down to the bones of the play, the opportunity to watch this complex royal thriller in the grounds of St Paul's Church in the open air is a wonderful one and those who want to see traditional Shakespeare in its rawness, as opposed to a modern adaptation, won't be disappointed by this loyal performance.

Running at two hours and fifteen minutes, it is a full evening of theatre and, admittedly, although the play feels long, it allows for the characters and the tangled web of relationships in the play to develop, ensuring for a magnificent finale inside the church. Of course the length and the mostly outdoor location run the risk of discomforting the audience but, fortunately, Daniel Winder's direction allows for the audience to move around the grounds for different scenes, keeping the play stimulating for the audience.

The church grounds offer a superb location and they succeed in transporting the audience to another time in history, allowing the plot of Richard's wicked and bloody rise to the throne to come alive. We travel from the courtyard, to the church steps, through the gardens and into the interior of the church, the actors using the spaces to their full potential. The church steps were a particularly powerful space to reveal murderous intentions and betrayal in front of and behind its heavy closed doors.

David Hywel Baynes as the sociopathic Richard, injected the production with energy and vigour, and his entertaining performance kept the audience onside where at times it could have felt as though it dragged. He portrayed a mischievous, charismatic and scheming Richard, who actually charmed the audience, despite his evil intentions. Hywel Baynes can't be praised enough for his connection with the audience, who he often communicates directly with, as well as his connection with the other cast members, and uses his physical theatre capabilities to morph into a realistically repulsive and crooked Richard. The rest of the cast, many of whom have worked with Iris before, form a strong collective and are adept at performing in what could be challenging circumstances - projecting their voices and delivering verse in a perfectly crisp fashion.

Winder's additional scene at the beginning from Henry VI Part 3, showing Prince Edward being brutally murdered by all three Yorkist brothers, helps us to understand how Richard became the object of such loathing and also provides vital background to the story. This classic bloody Shakespearian tale of loathing, betrayal and murder could be a complicated one to follow, but the experience of its location at the church and it's excellent leading man, make it a worthy one.

Running until 25th July 2014. Click here for more information.

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