Patrick Carnegy

David Tennant plays Richard II like a casual hippie

His thoroughly modern king may appeal to younger folk, but is a betrayal of Shakespeare's complexity

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issue 02 November 2013

Gregory Doran, now in command at Stratford in succession to Sir Michael Boyd, launches his regime with Richard II, intending to stage the complete Shakespearean canon over the next six years, ‘making every play an event’. What’s really good is that the plays will also be seen on tour, in London, online and ‘live on screen in cinemas and classrooms nationwide’.

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