Shakespeare’s finest verse play is also his first portrait of the mindset of power.

The sensitive and poetic Richard II is without a doubt the rightful king of England but he’s unscrupulous and weak. When his cousin Henry Bolingbroke profits from banishment and mounts difficult to his power, Richard’s to the throne demonstrates of little help to him. Richard is compelled to abdicate, but as his power is stripped away, he increases dignity and self-awareness, and he fits his loss of life heroically. On the other hand Bolingbroke’s seizure of the crown has caused resentment among the nobles of Britain.

Rupert Graves is Richard II, and Julian Glover is Bolingbroke. John Wood performs John of Gaunt.