“Shakespeare’s bloodiest play is, paradoxically, also his most performed. The nightmare of power mania seems to be a constant of European culture, and is represented in theatre history in an immense variety, but probably never as tenebrously as in Richard III. Even Shakespeare’s happy ending can be understood as an ironic and devastating metaphor of the perpetuation of power for oneself, a power which is able to revive from its own ashes, a power which is best compared to that of the Mafias’. Excepting children – who, of course, are also killed – there isn’t a single character in this play, be they a murderer or one murdered, a man or a woman, a noble, a prince, or a commoner, who isn’t begrimed with blood. The Duke of Gloucester, who mounted the throne of England as Richard III and enjoys virtually unlimited power, explores the possibility of conquering death by challenging the limits of mankind. Behind the tyrant we see Richard the man, who wishes to surpass his condition of being a mere human being. Is it possible to defeat death by totally identifying with it? This is the question of Richard, who makes his own life the object of a completely tragic experiment in the museum of horrors called history.”   András Visky

Opening date: July 5th 2008 (Gyula), November 19th 2008 (Cluj).
Running time: 2 hours and 40 minutes with one intermission.
Not recommended for viewers under the age of 14.


Press review