REVIEW: Shakespeare’s RICHARD III at The Cockpit 8 – 11 July 2026
‘Visually stunning’ ★★★★
Directed by and starring award-winning Argentine theatre-maker Nicolás Perez Costa, the publicity promised a ‘bold dystopian reimagining’ of Shakespeare’s Richard III. The show has already rounded up an impressive number of Award nominations at Madrid’s Teatro Infanta Isabel, including best set design. It’s hard to argue with that, as the simple set consisting of six oil drums and two metal step ladders were used to multiple effect. Expertly manoeuvred by the cast they worked brilliantly as scene changers, and live percussion (drums and ladder) giving a gritty metallic ambiance to augment a sense of depravity.
The central role, arguably most famously played by Lawrence Olivier, Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman and Ralph Fiennes, had a recalibration in 2022 when the Royal Shakespeare Company introduced Arthur Hughes as the first disabled actor to play the role. The reality of living with a physical disability put a different spin on the play. Nicolás Perez Costa chose to ignore a sensitive interpretation in favour of the full force of cold ambition. A disabled man has never been quite so agile, as Perez Costa scoots around the stage using his crutches like a pair of ski sticks. His energy and physicality are awesome, with a knock-out highlight. In an exuberant moment his sticks are thrown one at a time into the air and niftily caught by another. Yet, something is lost here. Perez Costa is quite hard to follow because of his strong accent, and he doesn’t elicit any sense of pathos, he’s all about looking good (and that box is definitely ticked).
For those of us who like to ‘feel’ something, the ensemble made up for this disappointment. The standout (for me) was Tricia Hitchcock as Buckingham who was truly commanding and brought a sensitivity to the role, and much needed clarity. Working in the round, the players were superbly co-ordinated. There was not a moment that any audience member could possibly feel overlooked, with the large cast expertly directed by Perez Costa to give frame by frame pictures.
This interpretation of the bard’s play is visually stunning with outstanding costume design. The ragged clothes and painted faces nod to both Elizabethan and dystopian film couture; with long trailing bustles, extravagant fabrics and tight-fitting leather breeches. The individual designs really help with the characterisations; each has a distinct personality.
As a personal note, I was unfortunate enough to be sitting opposite a ground level light, which shone straight into my eyes except when the drums or cast covered it. Very uncomfortable viewing for periods of the show.
The production is perhaps fairly described as a showy piece of theatre, which needs a scene-by-scene programme to tell the story as some of this is unclear. It helps to be au fait with Shakespeare’s history play, to be fully informed, so that it is possible to just sit back and enjoy the spectacle.
Shakespeare’s RICHARD III
Directed by and starring award-winning Argentine theatre-maker Nicolás Perez Costa
The Cockpit
8 – 11 July 2026
Cast and Creatives
Nicolás Perez Costa – Richard III & Director
Marta Carvalho – Queen Elizabeth
Tricia Hitchcock – Buckingham
Juliet Prew – Queen Margaret
Hugo Coello – Lord Hastings
Mathew Miles – King Edward & Lord Stanley
Julia Rose Lisa – Lady Anne & Lord Grey
Tom Longmire – Duke of Clarence
Oliver Broad – Lord Rivers
Nabhan Uddin – Tyrell
Germán Martins – Catesby
