Relishing the challenge of ‘timeless’ Richard III

Actress Siobhán Cullen gave a superb performance in Mark O’Rowe’s play, Crestfall, when she appeared in Druid’s production of the searing three-hander during the 2017 Arts Festival.  That was the Dubliner’s first outing with Druid – and now she’s back, but in a very different production, DruidShakespeare’s Richard III.

Siobhán describes Crestfall as “a very intimate and claustrophobic play”, while “with Richard III, everything is blown open”.

Shakespeare’s classic is a dramatic account of the villainous, deformed Richard, Duke of Gloucester, and his short reign as King of England following his devious, murderous plan to take over the throne.

It’s Druid’s latest exploration of Shakespeare following the company’s much-praised 2015 DruidShakespeare, which consisted of Richard II, Henry IV (Parts 1 and 2) and Henry V, as adapted by Mark O’Rowe. That was an exciting re-interpretation of Shakespeare’s historic dramas and one that offered an Irish context.

Siobhán saw the production in Kilkenny, where it was performed in the grounds of Kilkenny Castle. It was helpful in giving her a sense of the atmosphere and style that Druid had adopted when approaching Shakespeare, she says.

“And also, the narrative,” she adds. It’s always helpful to know about the characters and the history.”

Richard III is set in the late 15th century, at the end of England’s Wars of the Roses. But having immersed herself in the text, Siobhán feels its themes are timeless and universal.

“It’s a play that has everything . . .all the drama, people dying like flies and murder. And it has parallels to stuff that’s going on at the moment.”

In the play, Siobhán takes on the role of Lady Anne, who is seduced by the devious Richard and ends up marrying him, despite knowing that he has been involved in the murder of her late husband, Prince Edward of Lancaster. She also plays Prince Edward – one of the two princes in the Tower. These were Richard’s nephews, allegedly killed at his instigation.

For Richard III, as with the 2015 DruidShakespeare, all the cast play multiple characters, moving on and off stage constantly. And it’s some cast, with Aaron Monaghan in the title role being joined by fellow Druid Ensemble members Garett Lombard, Marie Mullen, Marty Rea and Rory Nolan, alongside Seán McGinley, Jane Brennan, Ingrid Craigie, Peter Daly, Zara Devlin and Frank Blake. And, of course, Siobhán, an honours graduate in Drama and Theatre Studies from Trinity College, and a rising figure in Irish theatre.

She has worked with companies including the Abbey, the Gate, Rough Magic and London’s National Theatre while, TV-wise, her work includes the BBC drama series Paula as well as RTÉ’s The Clinic and Fair City.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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