{"id":5915,"date":"2017-10-29T22:58:34","date_gmt":"2017-10-29T22:58:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cpwp.comptonplayers.co.uk\/?page_id=5915"},"modified":"2019-03-13T19:03:46","modified_gmt":"2019-03-13T19:03:46","slug":"richard-iii","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.comptonplayers.co.uk\/comptonplayers-c\/?page_id=5915","title":{"rendered":"Richard III"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"author\">by William Shakespeare<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>12th &#8211; 14th &amp; 19th &#8211; 21st October 2017<\/h2>\n<p>Richard\u2019s is a wartime story of murder, lust for power and an evil determination to become King. Our production follows him on his journey to the crown through murderous plots and traitorous relationships leaving the audience to ponder the question \u2013 was Richard really a villain, or a victim of his own deformity?<\/p>\n<p>With a nod to the mystery writing of the time, we\u2019ve set this slick and at times brutal and poignant production in 1939; you can expect period costumes, a striking set and a real treat to celebrate 70 years and over 130 productions from The Compton Players!<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/cpwp.comptonplayers.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Rich-III-Adjusted.jpg\" xlink=\"href\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-5876 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/cpwp.comptonplayers.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Rich-III-Adjusted-212x300.jpg\" alt=\"Rich III Adjusted\" width=\"212\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.comptonplayers.co.uk\/comptonplayers-c\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Rich-III-Adjusted-212x300.jpg 212w, https:\/\/www.comptonplayers.co.uk\/comptonplayers-c\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Rich-III-Adjusted-724x1024.jpg 724w, https:\/\/www.comptonplayers.co.uk\/comptonplayers-c\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Rich-III-Adjusted-620x877.jpg 620w, https:\/\/www.comptonplayers.co.uk\/comptonplayers-c\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Rich-III-Adjusted.jpg 1588w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 212px) 100vw, 212px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>The Cast<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">King Edward IV: Robin Hawkins<br \/>\nRichard, Duke of Gloucester (later, King Richard III): Peter Watt<br \/>\nGeorge, Duke of Clarence, his brother: Nick Roberts<br \/>\nDuke of Buckingham: Dave Hawkins<br \/>\nStanley, Earl of Derby: Paul Shave<br \/>\nLord Hastings: George Buckland<br \/>\nQueen Margaret, widow to Henry VI: Elizabeth Saxton<br \/>\nDuchess of York, mother to Edward IV, Clarence and Richard III: Mary Warrington<br \/>\nQueen Elizabeth, wife to Edward IV: Tracey Pearce<br \/>\nEdward, Prince of Wales, her son: Alfred Morris\/Elliot Jones<br \/>\nRichard, Duke of York, her son: Ava Pearce<br \/>\nLord Rivers, her brother: Chris Kendrick<br \/>\nMarquess of Dorset, her son: Cameron Pearce<br \/>\nLady Anne, later Queen to Richard III: Lauren Eeley<br \/>\nSir Robert Brackenbury: Eric Saxton<br \/>\nCatesby: Naomi Read<br \/>\nTyrell: Ann Griffiths<br \/>\nEarl of Richmond, later Henry VII: Robin Hawkins<br \/>\nSir James Blunt: Chris Kendrick<br \/>\nNorfolk: George Buckland<br \/>\nBishop of Ely: Eric Saxton<br \/>\nLord Mayor of London: Ian Hickling<br \/>\nFirst Murderer: Brenda Prior<br \/>\nSecond Murderer: H Connolly<br \/>\nPrison Guard\/Lord: Archie Saxton<br \/>\nVarious lords and messengers: members of the cast<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Directed by Helen Saxton<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/m9spmvrJMkE?rel=0\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Review from NODA<\/h3>\n<div class=\"review\">\n<p><strong>Richard III<\/strong> by William Shakespeare: Richard was chosen by Compton Players to celebrate their Platinum (70th) anniversary and this was an immense challenge. It tells us how Richard will stop at nothing to secure his place on the throne, the dastardly deeds he stoops to and what he does to achieve it and how it eventually brings about his downfall. It\u2019s a bold and fierce retelling of the famous story of jealousy, manipulation and deceit. Set at the height of Agatha Christie\u2019s popularity \u2013 coinciding with the 70th anniversary of the group \u2013 even though there is no mystery, this interpretation parallels the murder and intrigue of Agatha Christie\u2019s stories.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Front of House:<\/strong> The hall was laid out in the round as well as using the hall\u2019s stage. The front of house team was welcoming and helpful showing patrons to their seats and ensuring the evening ran smoothly.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The programme:<\/strong> The programme was full of information about the play (including a very useful explanatory \u201cfamily trees\u201d layout showing the houses of Lancaster and York), cast photos and information about other local amateur productions. A paragraph encouraging new members including a phone number would be a useful addition.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Scenery\/Set\/Properties:<\/strong> The set was excellent and had been well crafted portraying Richard\u2019s room and various other locations using the floor area. There was great attention to detail.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Make-up and hair:<\/strong> The make-up and hair was appropriate throughout.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Costume\/Hair\/Make Up:<\/strong> A great deal of trouble had gone into ensuring each character was appropriately dressed and made up immaculately. The costumes were particularly impressive.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Lighting, sound and special effects:<\/strong> The lighting was effective and imaginative; the combination of lighting and sound for the \u201cghostly\u201d and Battle of Bosworth scene was particularly well executed.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Production:<\/strong> The essential characterisations of each cast member was well developed and each character maintained their persona throughout. Peter Watt as Richard gave a compelling performance and there was fine work from Dave Hawkins as Buckingham. The ferocious exchange between Liz Saxton (as Queen Margaret) and Mary Warrington (as the Duchess of York) was highly charged and mesmerising. Thanks to the talented and hard working team, led by Director, Helen Saxton, the group gave us an intelligent, insightful and enthralling depiction of this famous story and the audience enjoyed an entertaining evening of classic theatre.<\/p>\n<p><strong>CHRIS HORTON<br \/>\nDISTRICT 14 REPRESENTATIVE, NODA SOUTH EAST<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--h3 style=\"text-align: left;\">ODN review<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"review\">\n\nI had doubts about this play, when I heard that it was adults playing 7 year olds, but those doubts quickly evaporated when the play got underway. The cast skilfully portrayed the group of children and we became convinced with their characters. Accents were good and maintained throughout, giving emphasis to the childhood humour. Willie (Nick Roberts) displaying the childlike traits of awkward hand gestures and fiddling with his clothing was a good start, closely followed by Peter (Pete Watts) the local bully, who, typically, resorted to cowardice when bullying did not work after his fight with John (Dave Hawkins). John was the more serious member of the group and challenges the cheating Peter, whilst being protective of the stammering Raymond (Phil Prior). Raymond was played sympathetically for his slight affliction and perceived immaturity compared to the rest of the group.Angela (Tracey Pearce) and her friend Audrey (Jasmine Gartshore) befriend the lonely and mocked Donald (H Connolly) in the barn, where he eventually meets his demise. Donald is desperately unhappy because his father is a Japanese prisoner of war. He seeks solace in the company of the girls rather than being accepted as part of the boy\u2019s gang. Donald\u2019s solitary playing with matches, which result in the fire was very poignant and the fire scene was very effective. This could have been enhanced if the fire effect had been maintained, even though the action had moved to the round, where recriminations and excuses were being explored. This would emphasise the seriousness and ongoing nature of the disaster.\n\nPlaying the majority of the action in the round was a clever use of space and gave the cast room to run, play, fight and express themselves, using the stage for the barn. The area below the stage was ingeniously used as a hiding place when they were frightened on hearing the escapee siren from the POW camp.\n\nInteraction was good between all of the cast members. Peter\u2019s fights with John and with Audrey were well staged and difficult when you are inches from the audience.\n\nThe play was well cast and enjoyed by all. Congratulations to the Director, Eric Saxton.\n\nNIGEL JAMES\n\n<\/div-->\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\">Newbury Weekly News review<\/h3>\n<div class=\"review\">\n<h2>Ambition will out<\/h2>\n<h3>Compton Players&#8217; Peter Watt puts in strong performance as lead in 1930s-set Richard III<\/h3>\n<p>Chosen for their platinum jubilee production, Compton Players were brave to tackle Shakespeare&#8217;s long history play, sometimes categorised as one of his tragedies. It is director Helen Saxton&#8217;s favourite play and she did well to present it in the round. The action flowed continuously and the actors, for the most part, knew and delivered their lines naturally.<\/p>\n<p>To dispose of the negatives first, I felt some of the atmosphere and sense of place and time was lost by setting it in 1930s costume. In mitigation, it could be argued that by updating the setting we could make comparisons between the scheming, ruthless Richard, Duke of Gloucester, and his supporters, and the behaviour of modern day politicians.<\/p>\n<p>I did, however, have difficulty with that aspect and found it virtually impossible to come to terms with the toady Sir William Catesby when he was presented as a prim, stiff and secretarial woman in a cream skirt. However, Naomi Read was suitably sinister in the part and it wasn&#8217;t her fault she was cast in the wrong gender.<\/p>\n<p>Lauren Eely, as Lady Anne (Neville, Prince Edward&#8217;s widow) gave a bold portrayal that would have been even better had she shown more passion, tears and raised voice when denouncing Richard as her husband&#8217;s killer. The same could be said about Tracey Pearce as Queen Elizabeth who, like Liz Saxton as Queen Margaret, showed pain and distress at their losses, but might have conveyed more venom and volume. However, all three were strong, sensitive actors in later scenes.<\/p>\n<p>The male actors fared better here, but it was easier for them to portray the crafty, self-seeking dukes and lords with sly, intense acting that never required raised voices.<\/p>\n<p>Paul Shave as Lord Stanley and Robin Hawkins as both Richmond and Edward IV were impressive in their studied portrayals. Eric Saxton, Ann Griffiths, George Buckland, Brenda Prior, H Connolly and Nick Roberts were all quietly effective and, indeed, so were all the supporting cast.<\/p>\n<p>As to that complex character King Richard III, Peter Watt gave a very fine performance in a long and difficult part, conveying the man&#8217;s slimy, ruthless ambition and determined bullying to splendid effect \u2013 in one scene, bellowing out &#8220;thou troublest me&#8221; to an unfortunate subordinate in a voice that shook the walls.<\/p>\n<p>The speeches were well-delivered and the asides to the audience very well thought-out and executed and, with very minor reservations, all contributed to a smooth, well-acted and skilfully-directed performance.<\/p>\n<p>DEREK ANSELL<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\">Compilations review<\/h3>\n<div class=\"review\">\n<h2>Richard III&#8230; wow!<\/h2>\n<p>The Compton Players made October a month to remember. They gave us their Platinum Jubilee Celebration production of <strong>Richard III<\/strong>\u2026 and how.<\/p>\n<p>The play was given a new slant. It was set in 1939 although for some the costumes neither enhanced nor detracted from the bloody story. The acting and deliveries were powerful and absorbing. As was the tale which I suspect many of us only knew in part.<br \/>\nRichard III was king then. But in this performance Pete Watt was king. He had us all entranced and gripped, at times staring close up and personal into the eyes of his hypnotised audience. Well done and thank you Pete. (Well done too to the makeup team. Pete&#8217;s hunched back, withered arm and still leg were strangely prominent\u2026 and yet there was almost nothing there! Of course, Pete&#8217;s acting made them so integral.)<\/p>\n<p>Dave Hawkins must have given the performance of his life. Certainly, it was the epitome of his acting career as far as I have experienced. His Duke of Buckingham strutted and suffered with real panache. Tip top job in my view.<\/p>\n<p>Terrifying- That&#8217;s what Liz Saxton&#8217;s Queen Margaret was\u2026 and some. Eerie, gripping and scary. Liz might be ubiquitous in Player performances but is never ever remotely the same. (Perhaps what we saw was the real Mrs Saxton? Only Eric knows!)<\/p>\n<p>The Compton Players wanted to celebrate their 70th anniversary with a spectacular production. Well they did just that. Thank you, every one of you.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\">ODN review<\/h3>\n<div class=\"review\">\n<p>Compton Players celebrated their Platinum Jubilee with an engaging production of Shakespeare\u2019s <strong>Richard III<\/strong>. The efforts of the entire cast and crew came together to make this a very special production, from the well thought-out staging and effects, to the historical detail of the programme. A long-time ambition for director Helen Saxton, she absolutely fulfilled her aim of bringing out the many different sides of such a well known historical villain and creating an enjoyable, entertaining and thought provoking play.Peter Watt relished the role of Richard III, portraying his scheming and cruelty with glee. It was a mesmerizing performance, made richer by setting the action in the middle of the hall, where Richard could engage with audience members and draw them into the story. The direction and use of lighting and sound came into its own during the ghostly scenes preceding the battle, and the battle itself, which was skilfully thought through to bring drama without bustle and chaos. The classic lines from Richard III can sometimes be a bit of a clich\u00e9, but in this production they were delivered with great drama and effect, as much a product of the actors as the staging.<\/p>\n<p>Other notable performances included Robin Hawkins, playing two quite opposite roles very well, from the ailing King Edward IV to eventually victorious Earl of Richmond. Liz Saxton gave menace and foreboding to the role of Queen Margaret, her warnings and prophecies echoing around the room, and Dave Hawkins as Buckingham found his comeuppance as he schemed alongside Richard III to take the throne. It was a great portrayal of the character, from his initial deviousness to his ghostly despair.<\/p>\n<p>There was also a fantastic cast of young people bringing the children\u2019s roles to life, including Ava Pearce, Elliot Jones, Alfred Morris, Cameron Pearce and Archie Saxton. They all did brilliantly, and it looks like they will ensure the future of the Compton Players for the next 70 years as well!<\/p>\n<p>JENNIFER COLLINS<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">A few rehearsal photos, mostly taken during an early rehearsal we held in St Mary&#8217;s Church, Compton.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Photos copyright and courtesy of Tony Gartshore<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-5915 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.comptonplayers.co.uk\/comptonplayers-c\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/20914681_10155729045634445_3808461597818054064_n-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.comptonplayers.co.uk\/comptonplayers-c\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/19467781_10158944287825029_4503758994698564901_o-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.comptonplayers.co.uk\/comptonplayers-c\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/19452889_10158935091320029_4903115812382635768_o-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.comptonplayers.co.uk\/comptonplayers-c\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/19453240_10158929907210029_2280181354443792218_o-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.comptonplayers.co.uk\/comptonplayers-c\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/19477416_10158929906180029_1927377272728400902_o-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.comptonplayers.co.uk\/comptonplayers-c\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/19467628_10158929906495029_2917161783049706953_o-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.comptonplayers.co.uk\/comptonplayers-c\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/19477726_10158929907510029_3870886484865647818_o-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.comptonplayers.co.uk\/comptonplayers-c\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/19575010_10158929906680029_6465319726788553169_o-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.comptonplayers.co.uk\/comptonplayers-c\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/19467984_10158929907115029_6316296371950882410_o-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>by William Shakespeare 12th &#8211; 14th &amp; 19th &#8211; 21st October 2017 Richard\u2019s is a wartime story of murder, lust for power and an evil determination to become King. Our production follows him on his journey to the crown through murderous plots and traitorous relationships leaving the audience to ponder the question \u2013 was Richard [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":8,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comptonplayers.co.uk\/comptonplayers-c\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5915"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comptonplayers.co.uk\/comptonplayers-c\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comptonplayers.co.uk\/comptonplayers-c\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comptonplayers.co.uk\/comptonplayers-c\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comptonplayers.co.uk\/comptonplayers-c\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5915"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.comptonplayers.co.uk\/comptonplayers-c\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5915\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6523,"href":"https:\/\/www.comptonplayers.co.uk\/comptonplayers-c\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5915\/revisions\/6523"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comptonplayers.co.uk\/comptonplayers-c\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comptonplayers.co.uk\/comptonplayers-c\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5915"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}