Mat Fraser cast as Richard III in new play
It has been announced that beneficiary Mat Fraser is to pay Richard III in a new play as part of the Hull 2017 UK City of Culture programme from 4-27 May at Hull Truck Theatre then at the Viaduct Theatre, Halifax from the 30 May-4 June.
Richard III is Shakespeare’s twisted villain who we love to hate as, with ruthless cunning and silver-tongued charm, he stops at nothing to remove brothers, wife, nephews and friends from his path to the throne. He’s surrounded by vengeful ghosts, friends he can’t trust and a terrible curse cast by the old Queen Margaret. In a final battle at Bosworth Field, the bloody feud between York and Lancaster must end at last.
Richard III will mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of Northern Broadsides first staging of the production at Hull’s Marina Boatshed in 1992 which featured amongst its cast Mark Addy, Edward Peel, Barrie Rutter (who also directed), Polly Hemmingway and the late Brian Glover.
Northern Broadsides Artistic Director and Richard III director Barrie Rutter says:
“Northern Broadsides and Hull Truck Theatre are thrilled to announce Mat Fraser in the title role of Richard III. He is an actor of scintillating physicality and vocal power. He joins a company of Broadsiders new and old, Hullensians aplenty, and will add his percussion skills to a company well noted for its musical invention. His return to the British stage as Shakespeare’s iconic villain heralds a shivering frisson of excitement.”
Mat Fraser added:
“This fantastic opportunity to play drama’s most famous disabled villain, and to put the visceral reality onstage of a “rudely stamped” actor in the famous character, is made even more exciting by having it be a Northern Broadsides and Hull Truck Theatre production under Barrie Rutter’s forthright direction. The honour of working with all the seasoned classic actors in the cast is one I hope to match with a deep understanding of a life lived differently, combined with a love of this intense violent drama, and joyously delivering the beautiful poetry of Shakespeare.”
To buy tickets for the play, please visit Hull Truck Theatre Website
