Richard III Tickets

About the Show:

Richard III is a historical play by William Shakespeare. Though it is based on real events, Shakespeare embellished and invented some parts for dramatic effect. This gristly tale of a demented royal's Machiavellian rise to power is Shakespeare's second longest play (after Hamlet). Consequently, many productions use an abridged version that cuts out certain scenes and characters and instead adds dialogue to explain what would have been missed.

Richard III represents the end of his first tetralogy (succeeding Henry VI, Parts 1-3). Though the series, which covers the entire history of the War of the Roses from 1422 to 1485, was not written in order, it was popularly read as a sequence and was instrumental in Shakespeare's early recognition and success as a playwright. Get your Richard III tickets today to see this early Shakespeare tale come to life onstage.

Plot Synopsis:

England is in a period of peace under King Edward IV after a long civil war between the royal families of York and Lancaster. But Richard, Edward's hunchbacked, bitter younger brother has his eyes set on the throne, and he is ready to kill anyone who stands in his way. Proving that he is deviously crafty and manipulative, he first convinces Lady Anne to marry him even though she knows that he killed her first husband. He then has his older brother, Clarence, executed, orchestrating the act such that the blame falls on the sickly king. When King Edward dies, Richard becomes lord protector of the kingdom until the elder of Edward's two young sons is coronated.

Next in Richard's line of fire are the noblemen who are loyal to the princess. He has them killed as swell as the relatives of the young princes on their mother's side (Queen Elizabeth). With Elizabeth and the boys unprotected, Richard arranges a campaign to have himself crowned king. He then locks the boys away in the Tower of London and sends murderers to kill them. By now, Richard is feared and loathed by the commoners and noblemen alike. The Earl of Richmond is quickly gaining followers in France who support his claim to the throne.

Meanwhile, Richard has his young wife, Queen Anne, killed so that he can marry the young Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth's daughter. Though she is his niece, this would solidify his claim to rule. But with few supporters left, Richard loses control and Queen Elizabeth manages to stall him, promising Elizabeth she will marry Richmond instead. Richmond at last invades England, and the night before the decisive battle, Richard has a horrible dream in which he is haunted by the ghosts of his victims. In the final battle, Richard is killed; Richmond is crowned King Henry VII and is betrothed to young Elizabeth, uniting the warring houses of York and Lancaster at last. Order Richard III tickets to see Richard's rise and fall performed live.

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