‘Richard III’ is a commonly staged play: the Globe last did it in 2019, and the last major London production before this one was Adjoa Andoh’s, which came to Richmond in 2023.
However, this production from Elle While has already sparked considerable backlash for the casting of Globe boss Michelle Terry in the role of the villainous monarch, on the grounds that she’s an able-bodied actor and the character as written is disabled.
Although Terry has stressed that she will not be playing Richard as disabled – but rather, a narcissist – the production has had a frosty reception so far, with many critics citing the RSC’s 2022 production – which starred Arthur Hughes, an actor with scoliosis – as a watershed moment.
Exactly what will happens remains to be seen: it could be a storm in a teacup, especially as the complaints seem largely social media driven and there seems to be a certain lack of clarity over the fact Terry won’t be ‘cripping up’. Nonetheless, even if she carries it off successfully, the role has undeniably tended to go to able-bodied actors performing with a limp, which feels dicey in 2024 – a lot of people will be watching to see how this production is received.
