1980's
Theatre Productions
1980
MacCruskeen, The Third Policeman, ICA Theatre - London, Ken Campbell's Science Fiction Theatre of Liverpool
Richard helped Ken with auditions. He changed the rules when actors were asked to audition their do their Shakespeare and modern speeches. One of his tasks was to count how many times they stood up or sat down and also we noted ‘how well they used the false teeth’ Ken produced from his pocket and had casually placed on the table.
1980
The Sultan etc, Le Grand Magic Circus -
1001 Nights, Shaftesbury Theatre - London
1001 Nights is a collection of folk tales often known as the Arabian Nights. The Sultan, Shahryar, marries a succession of virgins only to execute each one the next morning. Sheherazade, on the night of their marriage, tells the king a tale, but does not end it. So it goes on for 1,001 nights. Le spectacle was spoken in English with original songs still sung in French. Set on Rue de Medina the flower seller, Violette, was in love with JoJo etc..until they meet Ali Baba, Sinbad and purgatory... historical tales mix with love stories, tragedies, comedies, poems, burlesques and various forms of erotica using experimental theatre to avant-garde. Richard played L'Empereur du désert, The Sultan and other roles with this ensemble that played at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London, taking over the parts of Jerome Savary, who directed it.
Ken Campbell suggested Richard to Jerome Savary. Richard took over Jerome’s various roles over a week as Jerome had to go to Berlin to direct an opera. Richard gradually rehearsed in two scenes a night and did the whole show on the first Saturday . Songs remained in French but Richard and fellow Complicite member Celia Gore Booth gradually gave English translations for the dialogue.
1981
The Watch, Much Ado About Nothing, National Theatre - Olivier
The play, written between 1598 and 1600, was "Sundrie times publikely acted" but there were only two officially recorded performances in Shakespeare's lifetime, both at Court, in 1612/13. These performances were part of the celebrations preceding the marriage of Princess Elizabeth, daughter of James I, to Prince Frederick of Bohemia. Richard played the part of the Second Watch. This was the start of a long association with the National. Peter Gill cast Richard against the head of casting's advice....so Peter said.
1981
Peter, Don Juan, National Theatre Cottesloe
1981
Puff, School for Clowns,
Half Moon Theatre & Tour
Written by Ken Campbell. Directed by Sylvester McCoy. Later Stage Managed by Ken Campbell after our work experience ASM ran off with all the props, furniture, tea/coffee and a parachute........'just mime it all!'
1982
Lexy, Candida, National Theatre/ British Council Tour of India
1985
The Postmaster, The Government Inspector, National Theatre - Olivier
A small, corrupt Russian town receives a letter informing them of the imminent visit of a government inspector travelling incognito....when a passing civil servant is mistaken for the inspector, panic soon sets in....Richard had the part of the Postmaster.
He also played Rick Mayall's third thumb that appeared from the wardrobe knot holes.
1985
Bill Smiley / Eaton Sylvester, Pravda,
National Theatre - Olivier
Howard Brenton's second collaboration with David Hare, the two playwrights mount a satirical attack on the British newspaper industry of the mid-1980s that caricatures the events of that period as a way of challenging the social and economic changes in Margaret Thatcher's Britain. Richard had the part of Bill Smiley in 1985 and Eaton Sylvester in 1986.
Richard organised the first Sunday performance at the NT. An extra Sunday show of Pravda for Famine Relief on 6th Oct 1985. Everyone, including catering and ushers agreed to do the evening for free as contracts meant if one person was paid all would be entitled to overtime....organising the event I overheard at one meeting...'this building would run much better if we didn't have to put on plays!'
The Richard Eyre/ David Hare Company members devised a Platform show 'A Strange Kind of Animal' based on Adrian Mitchell's poems.
Shows at this time were subject to Bomb Threats and a system of lighting was rigged at the back of the auditorium: flashing light meant be aware of a bomb threat to the building but carry on performing ; continuous light meant get off the stage immediately without panicking audience, as threat had become imminent.
1986
Horatio, Hamlet, National Theatre
Cottesloe
Directed by Cicely Berry. Richard had the part of Horatio to Tim McInnerny's Hamlet.
Costumes provided by designer Katharine Hamnett. Best QandA question: 'Why is Claudius wearing brown shoes?' Kevin Cahill was the manager.
1988
The Mayor, The Visit, Complicite at the Almeida Theatre
Devised by the Company. Directed by Annabel Arden and Simon McBurney, as co-director, The Visit was Complicite's first existing-text production, establishing their relationship with the Royal National Theatre as a co-production. Richard had the part of the Mayor.