Richard (Bayülgen, 2022)

Richard

Okan Bayülgen’s Richard (2022-….), performed by Kabare Dada, is an appropriation of Shakespeare’s Richard III that has multiple layers of revisionist storytelling about the historical and histrionic legacy of Richard III. Retelling Shakespeare’s story and setting it in 2012 when the bones of Richard III were found, the play focuses on the individual’s position amid social corruption. A bankrupt theatre company, which tries to get funding from a Richard III society and attempts to sabotage their building to get money from the insurance company, makes use of an illegal immigrant backstage worker who has been stigmatised by society and falsely accused of murders. The immigrant rises to become the lead actor, but lacking proper education cannot get out of his role. The play uses Richard III’s performance and adaptation history. Richard is very vivid and combines elements from Piscator, documentary theatre, whodunnit, and psychological introspection. Dealing with the intersections of matters about class, race, and gender, Richard questions the stigmatisation of the historical Richard III, Shakespeare’s Richard III, and immigrants.

Cast

Okan Bayülgen (Richard Hell, Richard III)
Şenay Gürler (Duchess of York, Lady Anne)
Ebru Unurtan Urağ (Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth)
Nihal Usanmaz (Margaret, Queen Margaret)
Kevork Türker (Art Director, Edward IV)
Murat Yılmaz (Buckingham)
Oral Özer (Richmond)
Yiğit Pakmen (Bartender)
Esra Yaşar (Duchess of York, Lady Anne)
Su Sonia Herring (Young Lady Anne)
Volkan Ateş Gündüz (Director)
Dilay Yıldız (Desdemona)
Cem Tilmen (Young Handsome Richard)
Ali Akkök (Ricardian Robert)
Cüneyt Üstün (Drag Queen, Lady Anne)
Ferdi Taşkın (Catesby)
Levent Akkök (P.C. James, Soldier)
Cihan Akbilek (P.C. Tyrell, Soldier)
Sinem Bayraktar (Angel)
Sinan Aksu (Soldier)
Kayra Ural (Young Lady Anne)
İstanbul Bayülgen (Angel)

Production Team

Costume
Ayşegül Alev

Lighting
Kemal Yiğitcan

Music
Ömer Vatansever
Fırat Ağacık
Okan Bayülgen

Choreography
Dicle Doğan

Director
Okan Bayülgen

For more information, visit https://tiyatrolar.com.tr/tiyatro/richard

Poster of Richard (2022-….), image by Kabare Dada.

Image of Okan Bayülgen (Richard III) surrounded by Cüneyt Üstün, Nihal Usanmaz and Dilay Yıldız in Richard (2022-….), image by Kabare Dada.

Image of Okan Bayülgen (Richard Hell) at the final moments of Richard (2022-….), image by Kabare Dada.

Further Reading

Öğütcü, Murat. “Contemporary Turkish Shakespeares: New Breath to Old Lives.” Early Modern Liveness: Mediating Presence in Text, Stage and Screen. Eds. Danielle Rosvally and Donovan Sherman. London: Arden, 2023. 145-169.

Production notes provided by Associate Professor Dr. Murat Öğütcü, Adıyaman University, Turkey.