Shakespeare’s Richard II is the inspiration for The Whole Pack Theatre Company’s pared back version of the bard’s history play. In a brief summary of the play – the play covers the last two years of King Richard II’s life 1398-1400. The play begins with King Richard (Jessamy James) presiding over a dispute between nobles, in which Richard decides that the matter should be settled by ‘trial by combat.’ In a last-minute decision by King Richard, he instead, decides to banish both men from England. Bolingbroke (Lydia Shaw), is allowed to return to England early, but the suspicion that King Richard may have had a role in the death of the Duke of Gloucester, will not go away. Richard leaves England to join the war in Ireland but leaves himself exposed to treachery at home… Ultimately, King Richard is imprisoned, and it is this event that inspired this play.
This shortened version of Richard II makes the play easily accessible for those audience members who find Shakespeare a little long, and I am pleased to see that the play is faithful to Shakespeare’s language, which is beautifully performed by this all-female ensemble. The simple costumes make it easy to switch between characters for the performers, but it would be helpful to the audience to assist in following the plotline, if they could make a change by adding a hat or something along those lines to distinguish that they have changed character – one cannot always assume that all audience members are well-versed in Shakespeare. The simple staging gives the play a feeling of authenticity, there is never a push to make dramatic changes to how the play is presented, and if one thinks back to how renaissance theatre was staged, the all-male casts’ preferred in Elizabethan England have now been exchanged for an all-female cast, which works perfectly!
A beautiful touch to the play was the musical interludes which functioned as an indication that the scene was changing. Instead of clunky scene changes, the audience were treated to a harmonious chorus of wonderfully written music arranged by Meghan Louise Taylor, and this vastly added to the enjoyment of the whole play.
I have seen all-female Shakespeare plays performed previously, and I have always found them to be well crafted, and this one is no exception. The love of Shakespeare’s language is apparent in its delivery, and the ensemble work well together, never missing a step. This company have great promise, and a close eye should be kept on their future work.
This run of Richard II has finished, but if you wish to know more about The Whole Pack Theatre Company, go to – https://wholepack.wixsite.com/thewholepacktheatre
Reviewer: Caroline Worswick
Reviewed: 21st August 2025
North West End UK Rating: