Richard III

Nicu’s Spoon presents the Premiere Production in their new theater space, Richard III, directed by Heidi Lauren Duke.

Richard seeks to gain the throne from his elder brother, Edward, by any means necessary – including murder, marriage, and fratricide. But aside from Edward, Richard’s other brother (Clarence) and Edward’s two young sons also stand between Richard and the crown of England.

Richard, who describes himself as “rudely stamp’d” and “deformed, unfinish’d”, who cannot “strut before a wanton ambling nymph,” is played by Henry Holden, a disabled actor who struts his stuff with arm crutches. As Richard responds to the anguish of his condition with an outcast’s credo: “I am determined to prove a villain / And hate the idle pleasures of these days.” Both Richard and Holden are powerful men and play against the stereotype of disability as weak. Holden is Richard III, they are not evil men, it is the disability that is viewed as the evil.

Starring: Amber Allison*, Wynne Anders*, Rebecca Challis*, Haley Channing*, Tony Von Halle*, Henry Holden*, Timothy McDonough, Scott Nogi*, Christopher Thompson, Jim Williams
*performing courtesy of Actors Equity

Directed by Heidi Lauren Duke; scenic design by Victoria Roxo; costume design by Nicu’s Spoon; lighting design by Steven Wolf; sound design by Sarah Gromko; fight choreography by Stephanie Barton-Farcas; assistant direction by Russell Waldman.