| "Richard II" | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| The Hollow Crown episode | |||
| Episodeno. | Series 1 Episode 1 | ||
| Directed by | Rupert Goold | ||
| Teleplay by |
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| Based on | Richard II byWilliam Shakespeare | ||
| Featured music | Adam Cork | ||
| Cinematography by | Danny Cohen | ||
| Editing by | Trevor Waite | ||
| Original air date | 30 June 2012 (2012-06-30) | ||
| Running time | 148 minutes | ||
| Episode chronology | |||
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"Richard II" is first episode of the first series of the British television seriesThe Hollow Crown, based onWilliam Shakespeare'splay of the same name. "Richard II" was directed byRupert Goold, who adapted the screenplay withBen Power.Ben Whishaw stars as the titularRichard II of England. It was first broadcast on 30 June 2012 onBBC Two.[1]
Whishaw's performance earned him the 2013British Academy Television Award (BAFTA) forLeading Actor. The program was also nominated for theBest Single Drama award.[2]
TheBBC scheduled the screening of Shakespeare's history plays as part of 2012's Cultural Olympiad, a celebration of British culture coinciding with the2012 Summer Olympics.[3]Sam Mendes signed up as executive producer to adapt all four of Shakespeare'stetralogy (Richard II,Henry IV, Part 1,Henry IV, Part 2 andHenry V) in September 2010.[4] He is joined as executive producer byPippa Harris (both representingNeal Street Productions),Gareth Neame (NBCUniversal), andBen Stephenson (BBC).[5]
"Richard II" was shot entirely on location, including atSt David's Cathedral,Pembroke Castle andPackwood House.[3] It completed filming in July 2011.[5] One of the characters inRichard II, theDuchess of Gloucester, is absent from this adaptation. Additionally, the characters of Sir Piers Exton and the Duke of Aumerle are combined; after being pardoned for conspiring against Henry IV, Aumerle takes part in the assassination of Richard and presents his body to the king.