Richard III, Character List

House of York

King Edward IV David Annen

Head of the House of York, Edward became King after a successful military campaign against the House of Lancaster. The battles between the Houses of York and Lancaster became known as the Wars of the Roses. Since defeating the Lancastrian army at Tewkesbury in 1471 his reign has been a peaceful one.

At the beginning of the play King Edward is in ill health and nearing death.

George, Duke of Clarence Scott Handy

Brother of King Edward IV and Richard, Duke of Gloucester. Clarence was disloyal to his brother Edward during the Wars of the Roses, siding with Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick and the House of Lancaster for a time before returning to support his brother after the alliance proved unadvantageous.

At the beginning of the play King Edward has ordered George be imprisoned for treason in the Tower of London following a rumour of a curse that prophesises a person known by the letter ‘G’ will murder the King’s heirs.

Richard, Duke of Gloucester Ralph Fiennes

Younger brother of King Edward IV and George, Duke of Clarence. Richard played a significant part in overthrowing the previous King Henry VI and establishing his brother Edward as King. Frustrated by his brother’s leadership and harbouring a deep-seated ambition for the throne he begins the play intent on seizing power at any cost.

Duchess of York Susan Engel

Wife of the deceased Richard, Duke of York and mother of Edward IV, George, Duke of Clarence and Richard, Duke of Gloucester.

Queen Elizabeth Aislín McGuckin

Wife to Edward IV, Elizabeth was previously married to the Lancastrian Sir John Grey. Following his death in battle her marriage to Edward IV caused great displeasure within the House of York. This was made worse by the fact that she is not of noble birth. She has a son from her first marriage, the Marquess of Dorset.

Earl Rivers Joseph Arkley

Brother of Queen Elizabeth and an enemy to Richard.

Marquess of Dorset Joshua Riley

Son of Queen Elizabeth by her first marriage; following the murder of the Princes in the Tower Dorset flees to France to join Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond and his army who will mount a campaign against Richard III.

Prince Edward Lukas Rolfe, Baxter Westby

First son of King Edward IV and Queen Elizabeth, Prince Edward is heir to the throne. Following the death of his father he is kept captive in the Tower of London with his brother Richard and eventually murdered.

Richard, Duke of York Ben Barker, Oliver Whitehouse

Second son of King Edward IV and Queen Elizabeth, Richard is murdered alongside his brother Prince Edward so that he does not pose a threat to Richard III’s seat on the throne.

Richard’s Allies

Duke of Buckingham Finbar Lynch

Cousin of Edward IV, Clarence and Richard, Buckingham forms an alliance with Richard to support him in being crowned King. Buckingham is resolutely loyal and is promised lands by Richard for his help in persuading the court to petition Richard to take the throne.

When Buckingham hesitates to agree to murder the Princes in the Tower, Richard turns on him and denies him the land he has been promised leading Buckingham to turn traitor and join the army rising against Richard.

William, Lord Hastings James Garnon

A close friend and supporter of King Edward, Hastings served as Lord Chamberlain during his reign. Hastings does not support Richard’s claim to the throne and as such stands in the way of Richard achieving the power he so desires.

Catesby Daniel Cerqueira

A loyal attendant and advisor to Richard, Catesby is a consistent supporter of Richard’s ascension to the throne and follows him into battle against Richmond.

Ratcliffe Mark Hadfield

Like Catesby, Ratcliffe is an attendant to Richard and loyal supporter.

James Tyrrel David Annen

An obedient subject who is tasked with arranging the murder of the Princes after Buckingham hesitates.

House of Lancaster

Queen Margaret Vanessa Redgrave

Wife of the previous King Henry VI who was murdered in the Tower of London by Richard, Duke of Gloucester.

Due to Henry VI’s frequent periods of mental illness and dislike of political conflict Margaret became responsible for leading the Lancastrian side during the Wars of the Roses.

At the start of the play we are introduced to her as someone who has lost a husband, a son and the throne at the hands of Richard, Duke of Gloucester and is therefore incredibly vengeful.

The curse she lays upon the House of York is steadily realised as the play unfolds.

Lady Anne Joanna Vanderham

Daughter of Richard Neville, the Earl of Warwick who was instrumental in bringing King Edward IV to the throne but later switched allegiances from the House of York to the House of Lancaster.

Anne married the Lancastrian Prince Edward, son of the previous King Henry VI and Queen Margaret, who was later killed in battle at Tewkesbury by Richard, Duke of Gloucester.

Like Margaret, Anne has good reason to despise Richard.

Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond Tom Canton

A descendant of Edward III’s 4th son, Richmond becomes the Lancastrian heir to the throne following the death of King Henry VI and his son Edward. Richmond fled to Brittany following the ascension of Edward IV to the throne. After 14 years of exile he is supported by the French to raise an army and challenge Richard’s right to rule England.

The play ends with the Battle of Bosworth Field in which Richmond defeats Richard and seizes the throne. Richmond is crowned King Henry VII and marries Queen Elizabeth’s daughter, finally uniting the Houses of York and Lancaster.

Neutral characters

Lord Mayor Mark Hadfield

The Lord Mayor of London is a neutral character who is convinced by Buckingham’s argument that Edward IV’s heirs are illegitimate and petitions Richard to take the throne.

Bishop of Ely Simon Coates

John Morton, the Bishop of Ely was previously a supporter of the House of Lancaster. He seems to side with Richard following Edward IV’s death but later flees England to join Henry, the Earl of Richmond and the army he is raising to challenge Richard.

Lord Stanley Joseph Mydell

Stanley is a member of the court and is stepfather to the Earl of Richmond. He remains neutral throughout the play until Richard threatens to kill his son if he does not remain loyal to him in the fight against Richmond.