Roxanna Hope and Paul Mullins in Richard III 2006. Photo © Gerry Goodstein.

“All a man can betray is his conscience.”
—Joseph Conrad

“Dreams do come true, if only we wish hard enough.
You can have anything in life if you will sacrifice everything else for it.”
—James M. Barrie

“Living hell is the best revenge.”
—Adrienne E. Gusoff

“Our truest life is when we are in our dreams awake.”
—Henry David Thoreau

“Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.”
—Confucius

What Has Come Before

The War of the Roses—as the ongoing feud between the Houses of Lancaster and York was called—has been raging for years. It rises to a bloody peak in Shakespeare's Henry VI, Part 3. King Henry VI and his wife, Queen Margaret of Anjou, are engaged in heavy battle with Richard, Duke of York, and his sons Edward, George and Richard. York's youngest son, Rutland, is murdered. York is captured and brutally taunted by Queen Margaret with a handkerchief dipped in Rutland's blood, before he is finally stabbed to death.

At the Battle of Towton, the Yorkists regain the upper hand and defeat Queen Margaret's army. With the help of the Earl of Warwick, Edward (son of York) is proclaimed king and crowned King Edward IV. His brothers George and Richard are crowned Dukes of Clarence and Gloucester, respectively. However, in a stunning series of events, the Duke of Warwick betrays Edward and marries his first daughter, Lady Anne, to Margaret's son Edward, Prince of Wales; and his second daughter to Clarence, who betrays the Yorkists. King Edward IV is taken prisoner, and Henry VI is restored to the throne.

However, King Edward is soon rescued by his brother Richard and the faithful Lord Hastings. King Edward defeats and kills Warwick at the Battle of Barnet. Clarence turns on the Lancastrians and rejoins his two brothers in the House of York. At the Battle of Tewkesbury, King Edward, Clarence and Richard all take part in the murder of Queen Margaret's only son, Prince Edward. Queen Margaret is taken prisoner.

As the reign of King Edward IV begins, Richard murders King Henry VI, a prisoner in the Tower of London, who prophesies Richard's future villainy. Margaret is banished, and the Yorkists are apparently established for good. Only Richard knows of the trouble soon to come…