Overview

Synopsis

To what lengths will one man go to be king? Richard, the Duke of Gloucester, has his eye on the throne of England and desires all of the power it entails. However, his brother Edward is king, and there are several people--including his young nephew--in line for the monarchy before Richard can ever hope to gain the crown. But as Gloucester has resolved to be a villain, he begins a killing spree to eliminate anyone and everyone in his path. Based on the last of the historical Plantagenet Kings, Shakespeare’s Richard III brings to life one of the most infamous monarchs in England’s history in a twisting tale of villainy and intrigue for the ages.

Show Information

Category
Play
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
5
First Produced
1597
Genres
Drama, Historical/Biographical, Tragedy
Settings
Period, Multiple Settings
Time & Place
England, 1480s
Cast Size
large
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
College/University, High School, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult, Elderly, Child, Early Teen, Late Teen Characters

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Duke of Gloucester, later King Richard III

Lead

Male

Spoken

Duchess of York

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Lady Anne

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Anthony Woodville, Lord Rivers

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Marquis of Dorset

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Queen Margaret

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Sir James Tyrrell

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Sir Richard Ratliffe

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Sir Robert Brakenbury

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Lord Stanley, Earl of Derby

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Duke of Buckingham

Supporting

Male

Spoken

George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

King Edward IV

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Lord Hastings

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Queen Elizabeth Woodville

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Sir William Catesby

Supporting

Male

Spoken

First Murderer

Featured

Male

Spoken

Earl Oxford

Featured

Male

Spoken

Earl of Surrey

Featured

Male

Spoken

Duke of Norfolk

Featured

Male

Spoken

Cardinal

Featured

Male

Spoken

Boy, Duke of Clarence’s Son

Featured

Male

Spoken

Berkeley

Featured

Male

Silent

Archbishop of York

Featured

Male

Spoken

Ghost of Henry VI

Featured

Male

Spoken

Bishop of Ely

Featured

Male

Spoken

Lord Grey

Featured

Male

Spoken

Lord Lovel

Featured

Male

Spoken

Lord Mayor of London

Featured

Male

Spoken

Girl, Duke of Clarence’s Daughter

Featured

Female

Spoken

Edward, Prince of Wales

Featured

Male

Spoken

Richard, Duke of York

Featured

Male

Spoken

Sheriff of Wiltshire

Featured

Male

Spoken

Sir James Blunt

Featured

Male

Spoken

Sir Thomas Vaughan

Featured

Male

Spoken

Sir Walter Herbert

Featured

Male

Spoken

Sir William Brandon

Featured

Male

Silent

Christopher Urswick

Featured

Male

Spoken

Second Murderer

Featured

Male

Spoken

Elizabeth of York

Featured

Female

Silent

Scrivener

Featured

Male

Spoken

George Stanley

Featured

Male

Silent

Ensemble

Ensemble

Either Gender

Spoken, Silent

Ghost of Edward of Westminster

Male

Spoken

Songs

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A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

    An 'alarum' is a stage direction or sound cue, typically indicating a battle, fight, or disturbance offstage. It was frequently used in English Renaissance drama to signal chaos or action without showing it directly.

    To deceive or trick; used in older dramatic works to describe manipulation or con artistry.

    To conceal one's true motives or feelings, a frequent tactic in English Renaissance drama.

    Occurs when the audience knows more than the characters on stage, creating tension, humor, or poignancy.

    Relating to the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, marked by flourishing English drama and playwrights like Shakespeare and Marlowe.

    An archaic word meaning 'gladly' or 'willingly,' often found in English Renaissance plays.

    A dramatic genre that dramatizes historical events, especially English history, as seen in Shakespeare’s plays.

    A term in classical medicine and drama referring to bodily fluids that affect temperament; also used to mean comedy. This term plays a vital role in understanding theatrical structure and is commonly encountered in stagecraft or performance settings.

    A poetic meter consisting of five iambs per line, widely used in English Renaissance drama by playwrights like Shakespeare.

    A prediction or foretelling used as a plot device, often influencing character decisions and narrative outcomes.

    A brief trumpet flourish used in Shakespearean theatre to announce the entrance or exit of important characters.

    A speech delivered by a character alone on stage, revealing inner thoughts or emotions to the audience. Common in Shakespearean plays.

    Historically associated with melancholy or ill temper, 'spleen' appears in poetic drama to express emotional imbalance.

    An archaic term meaning style or mood, used in early drama to describe a poetic or dramatic approach.

    A poetic word for 'face,' often used in classical theatre to describe appearance or emotion.

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Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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Guide Written By:

Cindi Calhoun

Cindi Calhoun

Theatre teacher, director, writer, and seamstress