Sir Trevor Nunn talks to Jane McGowan about the history – both theatrical and personal – behind his decision to bring The Wars of the Roses to Kingston
The Wars of the Roses was first staged by Sir Peter Hall and his fledgling Royal Shakespeare Company in 1963. The 11-hour, star-studded production received universal acclaim and left one member of the audience – an unshaven, 23-year-old, Shakespeare-mad, Cambridge student - feeling “completely overwhelmed”.
That student was Trevor Nunn and although neither he nor the cast knew it at the time, his appointment as artistic director of the RSC just five years later would lead to one of the most exciting periods in British theatre.
Sir Trevor (as he later became) never forgot that production and this autumn he will direct The Wars of the Roses, starring Joely Richardson, Robert Sheehan and Rufus Hound at the Rose Theatre in Kingston. And it is by no means a coincidence that the director chose the Thames-side venue for the revival of this theatrical spectacle.
“The Wars of the Roses was created by Peter Hall, who was very much my mentor and someone I want to celebrate. The last artistic directorship that he held was at the Rose, therefore doing something so associated with Peter at a theatre he helped develop seemed to be very appropriate.”
Alongside that, of course, is the Rose’s design, which is a replica of the Rose in Bankside, where Shakespeare’s Henry IV and Richard III were first performed.
“They are in fact, coming home,” says Sir Trevor.
As well as running in ‘rep’, The Wars of the Roses, which adapts sections of Richard III and the three parts of Henry VI into a trilogy will be played in succession during full-day performances throughout the run. Sir Trevor firmly believes that even in today’s fast-paced, multi-screen world, audiences will embrace the challenge of 10-plus hours in the theatre and will be more “affected” by experiencing the trilogy in one sitting. “It gives the audience the possibility of experiencing something quite unforgettable,” he says.
The plays tell of the bloody battle between the Houses of York and Lancaster for the English throne during the 15th century. It is true saga packed with treachery, tragedy, secrets and sexual politics. The production features a host of famous faces as well as a chorus of local residents. The production, the largest in the theatre’s history, is certainly a coup for the town.
“We have a community group involved, which is very, very important to the project. We hope they will be a magnet to the wider community to come and see the production and then get involved in theatre in the future.”
Now aged 75, Sir Trevor has lost none of his passion for theatre. He was once quoted as saying he would not retire until he had staged all of Shakespeare’s plays. Next he takes on Pericles in New York, then A Midsummer Night’s Dream and King John. “And that,” he says, “will be all of them.” So is retirement on the cards? “Oh well,” he laughs, “I must admit, there are whispers of another musical and there is my autobiography to finish.” So maybe not.
The Wars of the Roses are showing at Kingston's Rose Theatre until October 31
