The premiere performance of William Shakespeare’s Richard II, directed by Boris Liješević, will take place at the “Ljuba Tadić” Main Stage on Saturday, April 4.
The play was translated by Živojin Simić and Sima Pandurović, and adapted by Boris Liješević and Fedor Šili. The dramaturgs are Fedor Šili and Vesna Radovanović, the scenographer is Igor Vasiljev, the costume designer is Marija Marković Milojev, and the composers are Sonja Lončar and Andrija Pavlović (LP Duo). The stage movement is shaped by Deneš Debrei, and the stage speech by Ljiljana Mrkić Popović.
The story of power and intrigues features Milan Marić, Vojin Ćetković, Igor Samobor, Aleksandar Đurica, Anđelika Simić, Sanja Marković, Aleksej Bjelogrlić and Danilo Milovanović.
Richard the Second explores how power distorts a ruler’s sense of self. Written around 1595, it is the first play belonging to the cycle of Shakespeare’s historical chronicles to offer a universal perspective. The play focuses less on the specific threat of a succession crisis and more on the power dynamics between the king and his opponents, presented in a way that prevents the audience from easily taking sides. More importantly, the drama moves beyond the stubbornness of the king who is convinced that his “divine right” (as it was then believed) makes him untouchable. Instead, it captures his painful, confused confrontation with his own weaknesses. It raises profound questions about the relationship between a ruler and his subjects. For these reasons, Richard II is considered Shakespeare’s first mature tragedy of character, rather than just situation.
