Directed by Aleksandar Popovski

Translator: Andy Jelčić
Dramaturge: Dubravko Mihanović
Stage Design: Aleksandar Popovski
Costume Design: Marita Ćopo
Music: Marjan Nećak
Video: Lana Cavar and Timy Šarec
Stage speech Assistant: Ivana Buljan Legati
Lighting Design: Zdravko Stolnik
Stage Design Assistant: Nastja Miheljak
Costume Design Assistant: Mia Popovska
Production’s Visual Identity: Vanja Cuculić / Studio Cuculić
Photography: Jasenko Rasol

Running time: 2h 40’ (including an interval)

Cast:

Richard, Duke of Gloucester, later King Richard III: Ozren Grabarić
George, Duke of Clarence, his brother: Andrej Dojkić
Lord Hastings, Lord Chamberlain: Sven Šestak
Lady Anne, widow to Edward, prince of Wales: Martina Čvek
Queen Elizabeth, wife to king Edward IV: Dijana Vidušin
Lord Rivers, her brother: Sven Medvešek
Duke of Buckingham: Živko Anočić
Queen Margaret, widow to king Henry VI: Bojana Gregorić Vejzović
King Edward IV: Hrvoje Klobučar
Dutchess of York, mother to Richard, Edward and George: Slavica Knežević
Sir William Catesby, a nobleman: Nikola Baće
Two Assassins: Ivan Grčić and Đorđe Kukuljica
Cleaner: Filip Šovagović
Mrs Shore: Anica Kovačević

Stage Manager: Ana Dulčić
Prompter: Andrea Glad

First rehearsal: October 6th, 2017
Opening night: December 15th, 2017

About the play

William Shakespeare’s King Richard III, an exceptionally powerful and political play, a story of ambition, lust for power and dominance is brought to you in a new translation by Andy Jelčić and envisioned by the director who has already staged ‘’A Midsummer Night’s Dream’’ in Gavella, one of our most successful productions ever.King Richard III is a play of epic proportions, complex in its genealogical labyrinths, demanding not only because of the intricate dramaturgical spiral and layered relationships, but also because of the emotional trap the English Bard set up for us.We are led through the events by a character (anti-hero) whose actions are anything but moral, yet his cunning is so seductive, his insight so devastating that we are forced to follow him on his journey and observe the events through his eyes (as well).Lords and queens, dukes and assassins weave a gripping plot full of suspense. They bring to the stage a world where, first and foremost, man is wolf to man and only then a brother, son, friend, lover...

Critics

‘’Gavella Theatre has raised the bar incredibly high and it won’t be easy to reach it. (...) It’s Shakespeare, talking about us! Popovski surrounds Richard with strong female characters, queens, all of whom are fighting the bloody battle for the throne. Bojana Gregorić Vejzović as queen Margaret gave one of her finest performances and she is followed by Dijana Vidušin, Slavica Knežević and Martina Čvek.’’ (Bojana Radović, Večernji list)

‘’In a play which clearly alludes to contemporary political events the director didn’t decide to directly modernize it but he tied it to the present using several fine, effective ‘buckles’ such as the one towards the end of the first part where Filip Šovagović, playing the cleaner, speaks from the audience, as the representative of the public and the people. (...) Ozren Grabarić portrayed Richard’s physical deformity with exceptional ease and consistency at the same time also shaping Richard’s mind games and changes of character – from a desperate man through a cruel person, a false friend, a seductor... to an aged and powerless man in the end. Additionally, he enriched all the changes with a side-commentary for the audience, which gave the character a touch of humour, making him more familiar and contemporary to us.’’

(Igor Tretinjak, Vijenac)

‘’The translation by Andy Jelčić is assured and unimposing, lavish enough to carry the ingenious eloquence of the Bard yet also has a contemporary sensibility, syntax and rhythm, such as Shakespeare’s language had for his contemporaries. That is why time flies when listening to it and, perhaps, it is easier to abridge it. (...) This is not the first time Aleksandar Popovski supremely directed Shakespeare in Gavella Theatre. Exactly ten years ago he staged ‘’A Midsummer Night’s Dream’’.

(Tomislav Čadež, Jutarnji list)

GAVELLA City Drama Theatre

On May 29, 1953 a group of young actors and directors, mostly "rebels" from the Croatian National Theatre, led by dr. Branko Gavella as their "primus inter pares", took over the building of the Malo kazalište in Frankopanska 10 Street and founded Zagreb Drama Theatre.

Due to the space being renovated the first performance was a guest performance in Subotica. Our theatre finally opened its doors to the viewers on October 30, 1954 with the performance of the play ''Golgota'' by Miroslav Krleža, directed by Branko Gavella. Throughout more than half a century of its existance and over 300 premières, the theatre in Frankopanska street grew to be one of the most esteemed and the most enduring playhouses in Zagreb and Croatia. In 1970 it changed its name to ''Gavella'' Drama Theatre. Later on the noun ''city'' was added to its name so today we're talking about the City Drama Theatre ''Gavella''.