The Tragedy of Richard III by William Shakespeare (Adapted by Michael Patrick & Oisín Kearney)
A Lyric Theatre Production. Created in response to Michael’s MND Diagnosis.
Production Shots by Johnny Frazer
The Tragedy of Richard III played at the Lyric Theatre as part of The Belfast International Arts Festival 2024.
Long live the King!
Unearth the dark and treacherous world of Shakespeare’s Richard III in this classic, adapted by Oisín Kearney and Michael Patrick. Richard, the King’s youngest brother, is diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, leaving him disabled and disillusioned. With no purpose after the war that crowned his brother, Richard must decide: will he seize the crown or burn the kingdom to the ground?
Reflecting the true-life story of lead actor Michael Patrick, The Tragedy of Richard III is a tale of one man’s battle against time, disability, and society. Directed by Oisín Kearney, this gripping reimagining of Shakespeare’s classic explores power, fate, and ambition.
Adapted by Michael Patrick and Oisín Kearney
Directed by Oisín Kearney
Set & Costume design by Niall McKeever
Sound design by Katie Richardson
Lighting design by Jonathan M. Daley
Starring:
Michael Patrick as Richard III
Patrick McBrearty as Buckingham
Ciarán O’Brien as Clarence & Catsby
Ghaliah Conroy as Lady Anne & Richmond
Chris McCurry as Stanley
Charlotte McCurry as Queen Elizabeth
Paula Clarke as Tyrell
Allison Harding as The Duchess of York
Zak Ford-Williams as Richard III (Alternate)
Trailer for The Tragedy of Richard III
How it all happened
In February 2023 Michael was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. Not long after he put a post up on social media, which included the following:
If anyone is casting any of the following roles, hit me up:
Richard III
Manus in Translations
Portia Coughlan's Husband
The Cripple in The Cripple of Inishman
Tiny Tim
Jimmy Fay, artistic director at the Lyric Belfast, saw Michael’s post and invited Michael and Oisín to pitch him their idea.
Their idea was to remove the play from the history surrounding it, and make it a proper tragedy. They would adapt the script to make it make sense with Michael’s recent diagnosis. Richard would no longer be “deformed, unfinished, sent into this breathing world before my time”, but rather “deformed, finished, to be sent out of this breathing world before my time”.
Jimmy liked the pitch, and the rest they say is history tragedy.
Reviews & Awards
Winner: The Stage Awards, Judges Special Award, Michael Patrick
Michael Patrick at The Stage Awards (photo: Alex Brenner)
★★★★★ The Stage
delivering a masterclass in Shakespearean verse speaking, unflinchingly underlining the fleeting nature of life and stripping himself bare in an unforgettable act of physical expression and artistic courage.
★★★★ The Arts Dispatch
a brilliant cast, united in the creative and inclusive world of theatre, and a man bearing his soul to the world★★★★ The Arts Review
speaks to unsettling things in a settling way, ensuring you come away enrichedView Digital
entertaining, energetic, and soulfulLove Belfast
the audience’s enthusiastic standing ovation said it all—the adaptation is a powerful reflection on both Shakespeare’s timeless themes and contemporary issues of disability and identity.Alan in Belfast
a career-defining performance, a remarkable living celebration of [Michael Patrick's] talent and resilienceBelfast Media Group
Director Oisín Kearney has taken a technically difficult work and laid it out in an accessible, entertaining and affecting form, managing at the same to platform disabled players and themes without a trace of tokenism.Belfast Times
This was a new tragedy, bold, ambitious, worthy of the name.S.I. Arts
a soul-baring, spirit-enriching and tremendously realised example of theatrical mastery
Interviews and Articles
Michael Patrick on Richard III - Irish News
‘It’s a tragedy because everyone dies – not because he’s disabled’: the creatives casting Richard III in a new light - The Guardian
Interview with Michael and Oisín - RTÉ Arena
Actor Michael Patrick talks playing Richard III with Motor Neurone Disease - ITV News
Actor Ian McKellen gives the show a shout out!
Wheelchairs
Michael used 5 different wheelchairs in the production, and we are eternally grateful to John Preston Medical and Mobility, Northern Ireland’s leading supplier of mobility and healthcare aids, for supplying the wheelchairs to the production at zero cost.
Check them out here: Link to website