After a five-year hiatus (having taken things indoors), Top Dog Theatre’s Summer Shakespeare is back for the epic Richard III. Set to the ambient soundtrack of cicadas and helicopter flyovers on Mona Vale’s Lawn, Richard III is one of Shakespeare’s historical plays, recounting the rise to power of King Richard III of England, and The Wars of the Roses between the Houses of York and Lancaster.

Shakespeare’s second longest work (after Hamlet), this production has cut the text down to its bone to “capture all the classic twists and turns…in two hours…and ensure the story is still accessible to modern audiences” (Derek Doddington’s Director’s Note).

The text depicts Richard III as a murderous villain with a hunchback, although when his bones were uncovered in 2012, it was revealed he didn’t have a hunchback at all. As noted by Director Derek Doddington, he and Will Alexander (playing Richard III) spent many hours discussing how they would portray the character, but ultimately decided to “play Richard as the villainous tyrant of Elizabethan times” and reflect the spirit in which it was written.

Alexander did not disappoint with his portrayal of Richard III, with a mischievous grin and exceptional delivery of Shakespeare’s work.

The large cast support the show well, with particular standout moments from Bethany Read as Lady Anne, Nikki Bleyendaal as Buckingham, Charles Grubb as Clarence, Helen Moran as the Duchess of York, and Grace Opie as Ratcliff. I appreciate Doddington’s approach to cast actors of any gender in any role, something he has brought to many of his Shakespearean productions.

Whilst not making his appearance until the final act, Tobin Smith provides an excellent performance as Richmond. Both Smith and Alexander’s British training shines in their delivery of Shakespeare.

I have to also applaud Dan Crossen for stepping into the robes as King Edward IV, at what I can only imagine was short notice.

Nick Lowry’s minimal but bold set design provides a good backdrop for the play, and the large space is well utilised. I’m thankful for the large family tree on the set, showing clear connections between the characters and making it easy to follow the plot and keep up with the many, many deaths.

There are a few issues with mics, and some actors are slightly harder to hear and understand during their lines, but it doesn’t disrupt the overall performance. The biggest distractions come in the form of sirens and helicopters, but that’s to be expected with outdoor theatre.

Mark Chirnside accompanies the play with live music, but the way his brown hood sits looks a little more Jawas from Star Wars than Lancastrian England. The actors’ costumes are simple, but provide the right canvas for the story to be told.

I’m no Shakespeare buff, so I was a little worried going in that I wouldn’t be able to follow the story of Richard III, but the performance is very accessible to a modern audience. It’s an enjoyable evening outing – just remember to bring warm clothes!

Even though it’s a violent and villainous story, there are moments of humour in the delivery. Alexander’s portrayal of Richard III transforms from mischievous and cheeky to downright evil as the show progresses. He is a truly exceptional Shakespearean actor, and I highly recommend seeing Richard III for his performance alone.

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