RICHARD III- Help!!!!

[MrCarmichael]

Well, thank God I found this forum!

I'm urgently seeking help. I've taken on the job of directing Richard III for a theatre company based in the North West of England after the previous director resigned with only eight weeks to go, leaving NOTHING! (Quite why I agreed to this I have no idea!)

Anyway, there is a cast of eleven actors; six female, five male. I have no issues with cross casting some of the male parts to be played by female actors, but I do want to make sure that everyone gets a fair amount of work to do.

Also the script is, of course, very long. Whilst I am not happy to do this I feel I have no alternative but to cut the script down to the two to two-and-a-half hour mark.

So, and this is where I start begging, does anyone with a knowledge of this script know how I can go about this remarkable task? Ideally I am looking for someone who has an edited script or someone who has cut the show down to a similar number of performers or both! I begin working on the production a week on Monday and one week is, of course, not not long to achieve everything that must be done.

Whilst I am unable to offer payment (typical theatre production- all available funds will be going towards setting and costume and then we see what is left over!) I am more than happy to credit any help in the theatre programme and also send a copy of this via post.

If you do think that you could help then my lifelong gratitude awaits.

Many many thanks.
Yours,
Paul.

Incidentally, it is more the issue of making the script work for a cast of eleven that concerns me, rather than editing the script. This editing could, in theory, take place at least partially in rehearsal with the cast.

Multi-rolling is fine, although I personally prefer the method of taking several smaller parts and then combinging them. If the actor is skilled enough in creating characterisation then this can be very effective. For example in a production of Macbeth I directed I combined the parts of The Old Man, The Porter and The Doctor to create one memorable seedy Clergyman.

I know that this may upset Shakespeare purists but I find that it works well to introduce people to the works of Shakespeare, especially those who may not go to the Theatre that often. (This is the demographic I am constantly attempting to reach!)

So...any ideas? PLEASE?

Cheers!
Paul

[kelby_lake]

Incidentally, it is more the issue of making the script work for a cast of eleven that concerns me, rather than editing the script. This editing could, in theory, take place at least partially in rehearsal with the cast.

Multi-rolling is fine, although I personally prefer the method of taking several smaller parts and then combinging them. If the actor is skilled enough in creating characterisation then this can be very effective. For example in a production of Macbeth I directed I combined the parts of The Old Man, The Porter and The Doctor to create one memorable seedy Clergyman.

I know that this may upset Shakespeare purists but I find that it works well to introduce people to the works of Shakespeare, especially those who may not go to the Theatre that often. (This is the demographic I am constantly attempting to reach!)

So...any ideas? PLEASE?

Cheers!
Paul

I have read it but my mind has gone blank. You could start with the two film versions (1955 and 1995)- they probably cut out some of the smaller parts.

What I would do (you may already do this) is break it down scene by scene. Make a note of which characters appear in what scenes and then see if there's two characters which don't appear together in any scenes (chances are there's quite a few). The murderers could double up as soldiers and all those other servanty parts.