Trevor Nunn will direct Joely Richardson in the first major revival of Shakespeare-inspired trilogy The Wars Of The Roses at the Rose Theatre Kingston this autumn.
John Barton and Peter Hall’s gripping adaptation of Shakespeare’s quartet of history plays – Henry VI Parts I, II and III, and Richard III – will play at the venue from 16 September to 3 October.
Forming a trilogy of plays – Henry VI, Edward IV and Richard III – The Wars Of The Roses explores one of the most tumultuous and intriguing periods of British history.
Richardson will take on the role of Queen Margaret, whose story runs through all three of the plays, alongside Robert Sheehan and Kåre Conradi as Richard III and Edward IV respectively.
Nip/Tuck star Richardson, who was last seen at the Rose Theatre Kingston in 2012’s The Lady From The Sea, is already well accustomed to portraying historic royal figures, having starred as Catherine Parr in hit television series The Tudors.
Her co-star Sheehan, who is best known for his screen roles in Misfits and Love/Hate, returns to the London stage following his performance in 2011’s The Playboy Of The Western World at The Old Vic, while renowned Norwegian actor Conradi has starred in numerous productions in his home country, including A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo And Juliet and Peer Gynt for the National Theatre of Oslo.
Last staged by the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1963, when it first premiered, The Wars Of The Roses charts the conflict between the Houses of York and Lancaster for the English throne. Examining the final struggle for power in medieval England, it tells a tale of feuding families, murderous kings and adulterous queens.
The production reunites Nunn with his long term collaborator John Napier, who worked with the director on West End musicals Cats and Les Misérables, and will be brought to life with a company of more than 20 performers and a local community chorus, the largest company to perform on the Rose Theatre Kingston’s stage since the venue opened.
The trio of productions in the The Wars Of The Roses series will play in rep at the theatre and will open prior to the festive run of A Christmas Carol.