Sara Beer in ‘richard iii redux’. Image credit: Artezblai
Kaite O’Reilly and Phillip Zarrilli’s play ‘richardiii redux, or Sara Beer [is/not] richard iii’ – nominated for the 2018 James Tait Black Prize for Drama – has just finished its first international run, at the Teatro de la Comedia in Madrid.
The play, reflecting on Shakespeare’s representation of disability in his acclaimed historical tragedy, stars Sara Beer as the iconic machiavel. According to Kaite, ‘our piece interrogates, satirises and subverts Shakespeare's attitude towards physical difference through a parallel contemporary story: a bogus autobiography of performer Sara Beer, who had the same form of scoliosis. Through irreverent references, we break down the construction of the “twisted body, twisted mind” stereotype of Richard III as evil incarnate – and we do it with laughter and moments of playfulness and absurdity.’
Praise for ‘richard iii redux’:
‘richard iii redux or Sara Beer [is/not] richard iii is a bold, informative, occasionally traumatic, and irreverently amusing 70 minutes of theatre.’ – Othniel Smith, British Theatre Guide
‘Richard III Redux is an insightful piece of disability art, mixing demonstrably excellent work by disabled people with biting social comment. More than this, it lets us into a new Richard, one free of disabling barriers. But rather than talking about it, my best advice is go and see it. You won’t regret it.’ – Chris Tally Evans, Disability Arts Online
‘Sara Beer and Kaite O’Reilly’s approach to Richard III is certainly unique… It is a brave piece, and one that demonstrates how Shakespeare’s work can be actualised without being fit into a mold it doesn’t belong in. All in all, the show managed to give a layered interpretation of an iconic character by approaching it from an angle that, while often visited in the past, has never been entirely in the spotlight. It is an excellent, immersive experience that is sure to leave its audience thinking well after its conclusion.’ – Chiara Strazzulla, Arts Scene in Wales