Richard Three

Starring

ALEX BULMER as Richard
ALEXIA VASSOS as Richard
and CHRISTINE HORNE as Everyone Else

Synopsis

Show Note & Content Warning

Digital Program

Details

Access Options

Visual Guide

Schedule

In the media

Canadian summer theatre dominated by the Bard and the no-holds-barred – Globe & Mail

Four Fresh Takes on Shakespeare in Toronto – The Toronto Star

“Two Perspectives of Disability”: In Conversation with Richard Three at Shakespeare in the Ruff – Intermission Magazine

Press Release

Disability dissected in Shakespeare in the Ruff’s RICHARD THREE
created by PATRICIA ALLISON
starring ALEX BULMER, ALEXIA VASSOS, and CHRISTINE HORNE

Photo of Alexia Vassos as Richard by Michael McPhaden

TORONTO, ON – Shakespeare in the Ruff is overjoyed to announce the world premiere of Richard Three by Patricia Allison running from August 19th to September 3rd outdoors in Toronto’s beautiful Withrow Park. In this new work centered on disability and inspired by Shakespeare, we find ourselves in the winter of our discontent as a multiversal collision brings two ideologically opposing Richards of Gloucester face-to-face. Both Richards must collaborate through this once-in-a-lifetime cosmological event to secure the crown. Alex Bulmer (Perceptual Archaeology) and Alexia Vassos (Pink Is In) take on the roles of the opposing Richards as they challenge tropes and analyze alternative perspectives in Allison’s piece influenced by the bard’s history play, Richard III and its king’s controversial rise to power. Sharing the stage with Bulmer and Vassos is multi-award-winner Christine Horne (Things I Know to be True, Three Sisters) in the stratified role of Everyone Else, playing 7 different roles from Queen Margaret to Clarence to Chorus. “The original inspiration for this piece came out of a desire to see the character of Richard III portrayed by a Disabled actor in a piece that was unapologetically Disabled. By throwing this reimagining of the work into a multiverse, we get not only one but two! In the hands of Alex Bulmer and Alexia Vassos as Richards with Christine Horne playing Everyone Else, this production is a dream come true.”

Creating the multi-dimensional kingdom between the trees are set designer Amelia Blaine, lighting designer Carley Melvin, sound designer Michael Wanless, and costume designer Julia Kim. This disability-centered production marks the second offering by Shakespeare in the Ruff under their new Collective Leadership model run by Patricia Allison, Christine Horne, Pj Prudat, and Jeff Yung.

As a Collective they believe that accessibility unlocks everything we do and community can only be built if everyone is welcome. With that in mind, Shakespeare in the Ruff is offering the following accessibility options to any and all audience members:

• Open captions available at every performance
• Pre-show touch tours (booked in advance)
• Street-to-Seat Guides (booked in advance)
• Mobility Device Seating
• PWYCA (Pay-What-You-Can-Afford) ticketing

Richard Three
August 19 – September 03, 2023
Withrow Park, 725 Logan Ave., Toronto, ON

Performance Schedule:
Tuesday – Sunday: 7:30 PM
Running Time:  Approximately 100 mins

Tickets:  PWYCA (Pay What You Can Afford)
Available only through www.shakespeareintheruff.com 

ABOUT THE CAST:

ALEX BULMER (she/her): Named one of the most influential disabled artists by UK’s Power Magazine, Alex Bulmer has over thirty professional years’ experience across theatre, film, radio and education. She is fuelled by a curiosity of the improbable, dedicated to collaborative practice, and deeply informed by her experience of becoming blind. Alex is co-founder of The Fire and Rescue Team which recently co-produced the critically acclaimed Perceptual Archaeology (or How To Travel Blind) with Crow’s Theatre, was lead curator of CoMotion Festival with Harbourfront Centre, and former artistic director of Common Boots. She established the New Writing department with Graeae, the UK’s leading disabled theatre company, is writer of multiple BBC radio dramas, writer of Breathe which opened the London 2012 Olympics, writer of the Dora and Chalmers nominated SMUDGE, and co-writer of the BAFTA-nominated television series Cast Offs. Alex’s practice infuses interdependent perception into the arts.

CHRISTINE HORNE (she/her):
Christine’s stage credits include Things I Know To Be True (Company Theatre/Mirvish), Three Sisters (Howland Co.), Light (Tarragon) Prince Hamlet, Iceland (Why Not Theatre), Portia’s Julius Caesar (Shakespeare in the Ruff), Asking For It (Crow’s/Nightwood), Tom At The Farm (Buddies), The Seagull (Crow’s), Belleville (Company Theatre), Vimy, FartherWest (Soulpepper), Between the Sheets (Nightwood), The Great Gatsby (The Grand),Andromache (Necessary Angel), Romeo and Juliet (Canadian Stage), The Turn of theScrew (DVxT), and Miss Julie: Sheh’mah (KICK Theatre). She was part of the StratfordFestival’s Langham Director’s Workshop in 2021 where she co-adapted and assistantdirected R+J. She is a member of the Collective Artistic Leadership of Shakespeare in theRuff. Christine also works extensively in film and television and recently wrapped FellowTravelers for Showtime. She has received a Dora Award, a Canadian Screen Award, andthe Birks Diamond Tribute to Women in Film.

ALEXIA VASSOS (she/her):
Alexia Vassos is an actor and writer currently based in Toronto. An alumna from the Theatre and Drama Studies joint program between the University of Toronto and Sheridan College, she holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honours and an Advanced Diploma in Acting. Since graduating, she’s appeared both on stage and screen in a variety of commercial campaigns as well as TV and film projects. In her recent endeavours, Alexia has been able to combine her love of the arts with her passion for disability advocacy, moderating events, participating on panels and facilitating workshops that focus on accessibility within the industry and reflect her experiences as a Disabled artist. Alexia is absolutely thrilled that her Toronto theatre debut is with this company, alongside this cast, for this show.

ABOUT SHAKESPEARE IN THE RUFF:
Shakespeare in the Ruff is a collectively run not-for-profit theatre company building a community & a cultural hub in Toronto’s East End. Underpinning all of their works is the core value of accessibility. Using Shakespeare as a foundation, they re-interpret, re-write, and renew these stories for a contemporary audience. They push the boundaries of what is possible in outdoor theatre. With the support of their engaged community, they’ve been able to take risks in their organization and their art, and they look forward to surprising and delighting their community in ways they can’t even yet imagine, for years to come.

CONNECT WITH SHAKESPEARE IN THE RUFF:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShakespeareInTheRuff/
Instagram & Threads: @shakespeareruff
Twitter: @ShakespeareRuff

Creative & Production Team