Richard II
From April to June 2012, Shakespeare’s Globe brought theatre companies from around the world to perform all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays in 37 languages. The Globe to Globe season was part of the World Shakespeare Festival for the London 2012 Festival.
Richard II is no longer available but you can still see some of the Globe to Globe plays featured on The Space.
RICHARD II
Performed in Palestinian Arabic by the Ashtar Theatre.
(with scene description in English)
THE COMPANY
The Ashtar Theatre was established in Jerusalem in 1991 by Palestinian actors Edward Muallem and Iman Aoun. They tour the more remote areas of the Palestinian territories to serve audiences unable to reach Ashtar’s main base in Ramallah.
THE PLAY
As Bolingbroke accuses Mowbray of treason and murder, and the two men prepare to fight a duel, King Richard intervenes and banishes them both from England. Already unpopular with his lords the monarch angers his supporters further by selling land to fund the disastrous war in Ireland. With the help of those alienated from Richard’s support, Bolingbroke returns to England with an army to seize the throne from the unpopular king in this modern day adaptation of the work.
PRINCIPAL CAST AND CREDITS
King Richard II: Sami Metwasi
Duke of Gloucester/Duke of York: George Ibrahim
John of Gaunt: Hussein Nakhleh
Northumberland: Edward Muallem
Henry Bolingbroke: Nicola Zreineh
Queen: Bayan Shbib
Director: Conall Morrison
Designer: Rajha Shakiry
Text editor: Gassan Zaqtan