Shakespeare's masterfully in-depth, multifaceted and complex depiction of Richard III. formed a prototype of rulers based on extraordinary ambition, insatiable desire and ruthless willingness to sacrifice everything – family, allies and nation to achieve the goal. A sense of self-importance and a lack of empathy for his fellow man allow him to reach for anything and anyone anytime, anywhere. His charisma is no coincidence – he is a thoughtful mask that the world rewards with strength. Richard III. it is not a warning from the past, but a symptom of the present. Director Jan Krmelj will set Shakespeare's story in a dystopian world of digital control and autocratic abuse of power. The court will become a communication apparatus, and the stage will become a place where Richard stages his rise in front of the public eye – through cameras, live broadcasts and information control. Richard's world is a disintegrated digital desert after an ecological collapse - no values, no ethics, no future. His cry of " horse! Horse! I give the kingdom for a horse! "will reveal a moment of total loss: when the illusion of Power collapses to the level of the bare need to survive.
Shakespearjeva mojstrsko poglobljena, večplastna in kompleksna upodobitev Riharda III. je oblikovala prototip vladarjev, ki temelji na izjemni ambiciji, nenasitni želji in brezobzirni pripravljenosti žrtvovati vse – družino, zaveznike in narod za dosego cilja. Občutek lastne pomembnosti in pomanjkanje empatije do sočloveka mu dovoljujeta, da kadarkoli in kjerkoli posega po čemerkoli in komurkoli. Njegova karizma ni naključje – je premišljena maska, ki jo svet nagrajuje z močjo. Rihard III. ni opozorilo iz preteklosti, temveč simptom sedanjosti. Režiser Jan Krmelj bo Shakespearjevo zgodbo postavil v distopični svet digitalnega nadzora in avtokratske zlorabe oblasti. Dvor bo postal komunikacijski aparat, oder pa prostor, kjer Rihard uprizarja svoj vzpon pred očmi javnosti – skozi kamere, prenose v živo in nadzor nad informacijami. Rihardov svet je razpadla digitalna puščava po ekološkem kolapsu – brez vrednot, brez etike, brez prihodnosti. Njegov krik » Konja! Konja! Kraljestvo dam za konja! « pa bo razkril trenutek popolne izgube: ko se iluzija moči zruši na raven gole potrebe po preživetju.