THE HOLLOW CROWN / THE WAR OF THE ROSES
I have composed the score to the 8 hour Shakespeare epics The Hollow Crown and The War of the Roses.
Sport For Jove’s Rose Riot consists of two shows: The Hollow Crown and The War of the Roses. Director and adaptor Damien Ryan has condensed Shakespeare’s English history cycle into approximately seven hours of gripping theatre: if you catch both productions (which you can do in a single day) you will see scenes from Richard II, Henry IV parts 1 and 2, Henry V, Henry VI parts 1, 2 and 3, and Richard III.
The plot of Shakespeare’s double tetralogy loosely follows the historical events that occurred during the English civil wars between the houses of Lancaster and York, rival branches of the royal house of Plantagenet. Shakespeare ducks and weaves around the historical facts, creating a compelling narrative which is as relevant as it ever was if you consider those who live in war torn regions today.
Director Damien Ryan’s theatrical genius is on full display in this must-see rendition of Shakespeare’s timeless history cycle. This is the tenth summer season of outdoor Shakespeare staged by Sport For Jove, and the Olympian undertaking of mounting eight plays across two productions no doubt represents a determination to mark the decade with something truly special.
