theatre

2012
King Lear

Richard played the Duke of Albany in this stunning production of King Lear directed by Michael Attenborough and starring Jonathan Pryce at the Almeida Theatre. Top two photographs copyright Simon Annand.

Democracy

Democracy, produced by Michael Frayn and directed by Paul Miller, ran at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre from March 8-31 and played at the Old Vic. Richard played the part of Horst Ehmke to stellar reviews, see below:




Two exclusive interviews with Richard:

Star Interview

Sheffield Telegraph

                               


2011

Double Feature

Four new plays presented by hot new directors in the Paintframe location of the National Theatre.  Richard had the part of Russell in Double Feature 1 "The Swan" and Field Commander Goodman in Double Feature 2 "There Is A War".  Here are two excellent reviews of Richard's performance:
Timeout
London Evening Standard

2010 - 2011

Dirty Dancing

Written by Eleanor Bergstein and set in New York in the Summer of 1963, Dirty Dancing chronicles Baby Houseman's coming of age at Kellerman's resort in the Catskill Mountains.  

Richard played the part Max Kellerman at the Aldwych Theatre in London. 

2009

When The Rain Stops Falling

Richard played the part of Gabriel York, a man who is about to meet the son he abandoned years before. When the Rain Stops Falling is a family saga set in Australia, and skipping from 1959 to 2039 in years.

I found this rather wonderful review of Richard's performance as Gabriel York: WTRSF

2008

Noises Off

One of my personal favorites, Noises Off is a play within a play.  The first act is set at dress rehearsal, the night before opening, with the cast still fumbling with exits and entrances, miscues and misspoken lines...and things only go progressively from bad to worse as we follow the shenanigans of the actors from town to town, with all the hilarity going on behind the scenes!  Richard got to play the part of Freddie Fellowes.

Nice little review: Noises Off

The Hour We Knew Nothing of Each Other

 
 Written by Peter Handke, the play has 450 characters and focuses on a day in the life of an unspecified town square. Richard had 26 different roles in this one, including the Wanderer. Review: Hour

2007

Donkeys' Years

Twenty five years after graduation, six former students return to their university college for a reunion dinner.  Once locked in college for the night, the graduates begin to relive their youth, old friendships, feuds.....Richard had the role of Norman Tate.

Review: DY

2002

A Prayer For Owen Meany

Simon Bent's adaptation of the American novel written by John Irving, it tells the story of John Wheelright and his best friend, Owen Meany growing up together in a small New England town in the 50s-60s.  Richard's part was that of John Wheelright.  Review: Prayer

Life After George

Written by Hannie Rayson, the play deals with a series of flashbacks into George's life, his relationships with four women and their relations with each other.  Played at the Duchess Theatre and Richard had the role of  George's friend and confidante, Duffy.

Review: Life After George

2001

Cymbeline

 Richard had the lead part in this production of Shakespeare's Cymbeline at the Globe Theatre.  The story was based on legends of the early Celtic British King Cunobelinus and deals with the themes of innocence and jealousy.

1996

War & Peace

Written by Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace details the lead in to Napoleon's invasion of Russia and the impact of the Napoleonic era on Tsarist society as seen through the eyes of five Russian aristocratic families. Richard played the part of Pierre.  Fantastic review:  W&P

1995

The Park

The Park by Botho Strauss and is Strauss' take on Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream", a collection of fragmented, alienated meetings in a run down park.  Richard's part was that of "Wolf".

1994

Betrayal

Richard had the part of the second leading man, Jerry in this Harold Pinter production.  The story structure strips away all edifice and shows the very capacity for love itself is sometimes based on betraying not only other loves ones, but even ourselves.  

1993 & 1998

Anna Karenina

Anna Karenina enjoyed two runs, one from 1993-1994 and one in 1998 where it toured New York, Brisbane and Buenos Aires.  Richard played the male lead, Levin throughout.  

One review and article from May 21, 1993 New Straights Times 

The Independent from 28 February, 1993 had this to say: "There are some stunning set pieces, including a swooningly erotic seduction in which the partners barely touch. The direction, on a stage furnished only with bentwood chairs and an upstage sliding panel, is masterly; but never at the expense of individual performances, which present a mask-like profile (David Fielder's glacial Karenin, Jessica Lloyd's vapidly emotional Kitty) which then shatters under the pressure of feeling. None more so than Richard Hope's irascibly farouche Levin, and Teresa Banham's Anna, a voluptuous black-velvet friend to everyone, who takes her last walk spitting venom at the passers-by. Magnificent."

1991

Street of Crocodiles

Based on the Bruno Schultz novel, Theatre de Complicite, in cooperation with the NT studio offered this production with Richard playing the part of "father".  The book's characters are unbelievably haunting, despite its complete lack of dialogue. 

1990

Don Gil of the Green Britches

Richard had the part of Caramanchel in this production of the irreverent, highly farcical comedy for the Gate Theatre.  The play contains disguise, mistaken identity, role-reversal....what more could you ask from one play?

1988 & 1991

The Visit

 Directed by Annabel Arden and Simon McBurney, as co-director, The Visit was Complicite's first existing-text production, establishing their relationship with the Royal National Theatre.  Richard had the part of the Mayor.

                                      1986

Hamlet

I don't know that Hamlet requires any explanation...but Richard had the part of Horatio.

1985

Pravda

Richard as Bill Smiley, with Tim McInnerney and Anthony HopkinsHoward Brenton's second collaboration with David Hare, the two playwrights mount a satirical attack on the British newspaper industry of the mid-1980s that caricatures the events of that period as a way of challenging the social and economic changes in Margaret Thatcher's Britain. Richard had the part of Bill Smiley in 1985 and Eaton Sylvester in 1986.

The Government Inspector

A small, corrupt Russian town receives a letter informing them of the imminent visit of a government inspector travelling incognito....when a passing civil servant is mistaken for the inspector, panic soon sets in....Richard had the part of the Postmaster.

1981

Much Ado About Nothing

The play, written between 1598 and 1600, was "Sundrie times publikely acted" but there were only two officially recorded performances in Shakespeare's lifetime, both at Court, in 1612/13.  These performances were part of the celebrations preceding the marriage of Princess Elizabeth, daughter of James I, to Prince Frederick of Bohemia.   Richard played the part of the Second Watch.

1980

Le Grand Magic Circus

1001 Nights

1001 Nights is a collection of folk tales often known as the Arabian Nights. The Sultan, Shahryar, marries a succession of virgins only to execute each one the next morning. Sheherazade, on the night of their marriage, tells the king a tale, but does not end it. So it goes on for 1,001 nights.

Le spectacle was spoken in English with original songs still sung in French. Set on Rue de Medina the flower seller, Violette, was in love with JoJo etc..until they meet Ali Baba, Sinbad and purgatory... historical tales mix with love stories, tragedies, comedies, poems, burlesques and various forms of erotica using experimental theatre to avant-garde.
Richard played L'Empereur du désert, The Sultan and other roles with this ensemble that played at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London, taking over the parts of Jerome Savary, who directed it.  

1979

Accidental Death of an Anarchist

Richard played Bertozzo in the Belt and Braces Tour at the Half Moon Theatre in London directed by Gavin Richards.

HitchHikers Guide To The Galaxy

The first production was put on at the ICA (Institute for Contemporary Arts) in London on the 1st-9th of May, 1979, by Ken Campbell's Science Fiction Theatre of Liverpool.  Richard played the role of Ford Prefect and I found the following review and history:  Guide

1978

The Warp

This production was put on at the ICA in London by Ken Campbell's Science Fiction Theatre of Liverpool, in which Richard played a variety of characters.


Richard is very involved with the National Youth Theatre and provided the following testimonial in 2010 for the National Youth Theatre funding appeal:
"Michael Croft gave me a bursary in my final year at the NYT. Without the financial support I would not have realised the culmination of a unique life experience. It gave me a work ethic to strive for the best in myself, a desire to dare for dramatic excellence and a family of likeminded friends and adventurers. I spent four more years running courses and initiating others in the rare creative stockpot of a truly National Theatre of Youth."