Risjaar Drei

Risjaar (Richard) is repulsive. He was born premature, unfinished. He is deformed, limps and is hideously ugly. During the Wars of the Roses, which suddenly broke out after the death of Henry V, Risjaar fought with all his might for his family, alongside his brother Edwaar (Edward). Edwaar is now the king, as a result of several brutal political assassinations devised by his crippled brother. However, the end of the war does not bring Risjaar the peace he has desired for so long.

In his play Richard III, Shakespeare created one of the most memorable monsters in literature. What makes him so attractive is his free and unashamedly cheerful display of amorality. Brazenly inhuman opinions have never sounded so sweet.

• Olympique Dramatique was set up in 1999 by Tom Dewispelaere, Ben Segers, Stijn Van Opstal and Geert Van Rampelberg as an actors’ collective that wanted to do its own thing, independently of a director. The collective has been a permanent Toneelhuis theatre-maker since 2006.

“Met Risjaar Drei bewijzen Olympique Dramatique en Toneelhuis hoe vitaal een stuk ‘uit het ijzeren repertoire’ kan zijn, hoe sterk het de eigen verbeelding kan stimuleren.” – uit het Juryrapport

“De Antwerpse voertaal, de eerder behouden regie, het grote repertoire als evidentie (…): het haalt de tijd terug dat theater nog om draaide en de goegemeente zich verzamelde om hen samen te vieren. Risjaar Drei dwingt die viering moeiteloos af.” – De Standaard

“Richard III staat voor de doldrieste machtsgeilerd.(…) In Risjaar Drei zetten Dewispelaere en Van Opstal zetten die spitse doortraptheid lekker ‘vet’ in de verf.” – Theaterkrant