Theater Talk: Kevin Spacey on Richard III

Actor Kevin Spacey discusses his role in Richard III (in the internationally acclaimed production of Shakespeare's play now at BAM), as well as his job as the artistic director at the Old Vic Theatre in London, a responsibility which he took on in the midst of his successful Hollywood career.

Taped: 01-13-2012

Theater Talk is a series devoted to the world of the stage. It began on New York television in 1993 and is co-hosted by Michael Riedel (Broadway columnist for the New York Post) and series producer Susan Haskins.

The program is one of the few independent productions on PBS and now airs weekly on Thirteen/WNET in New York and WGBH in Boston. Now, CUNY TV offers New York City viewers additional opportunities to catch each week's show. (Of course, Theater Talk is no stranger to CUNY TV, since the show is taped here each week before its first airing on Thirteen/WNET.)

The series is produced by Theater Talk Productions, a not-for-profit corporation and is funded by contributions from private foundations and individuals, as well as The New York State Council on the Arts.

[gingermavy]

It was pleasant to listen to Spacey-he comes across as thoughtful and intelligent.

[Nitoyc]

As an Artistic Director of a fledging Non Profit Community Theatre in Perth Western Australia... What Kevin Spacey said made me teared up and boosted my confidence in what am doing despite all the odds and hindrances ( mainly financial, as well as generational breakdowns) specially with his last few words.
Sending the Elevator ( Lift - As we call it down here) back down.
Thank you Sir Spacey... I so needed that boost to soldier on for PETAWA.

[songofsunrise]

he's such a fantastic person to have in the arts - this is exactly the kind of support we need to help people realize the value of cultural experience, the kind of personal growth it inspires in people - something we can't afford to lose, economic crisis or not. The arts are always the first to be scrapped in these situations, but it's the arts, too, that are the source and resources that make tranformations possible in the way we think and act and create our own lives. Thanks Kevin Spacey!

[TorchwoodPandP]

"Countries may go to war, but it is culture that unites us."

[michaelcristo]

I remember being a student in Vienna, and seeing amazing opera performances for 1 Euro. That's what we need! 

[youngian]

As a Londoner Spacey's Old Vic appointment did seem a very odd vanity move. But you judge someone by their results and Kevin Spacey's work has been excellent both artistically and business wise. He was warmly embraced and became a well loved Londoner. And thats despite being Hollywood actor not because of it.

[mimisetonmusic]

He is such a theatrical actor, I was pleased to see how natural and unaffected he is in 'real life' in this interview. Not at all affected.

[dawnstoehrer]

Kevin Spacey is the best artistic genius Ever 👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑💯🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[teeniebeenie]

best actor of our generation

(i shalll treasure our time by the creek back in the day,
u are divine....

[riky]

Yo creo que no la volvera hacer nunca que mala suerte tengo la quería ver 😭😭😭

[elonalee]

Where can we get a copy of this on dvd or so. Richard the 3 i mean? I really want to see it. Sniff.

[maskent-oljy]

Great actor, HRH Prince Charles awarded him more times accordingly, last time (if recall it correctly) this year on June 16th. (just remember of this date very well because of a personal reference of the exact same date in 1997).

[wotan]

Spacey has an interesting take on Richard, the idea that he's a human being who needs empathy. IDK, Richard has always struck me as monstrous. I'm sure Michael Corleone is based on Richard.

[TheAciddragon]

it was far from a "slight curvature of the spine" i saw the pictures the deformity was quite intensive.

[timothymeehan]

To those mocking him, let’s always remember the famous words of Oscar Wilde, referring to a famous, brilliant writer of great literature, found to have poisoned his wife—- “The fact that a man is a poisoner is nothing against his prose”….😞🙏🎭(within reason)…

[craigrobertson]

The trouble that actors know the tribulation of the human condition more than most of us but when they use us in a way as part players in their own power play, the result all bets are off, close the hatch, pride before the fall and now face the jury who will hear and see the evidence before them your truly ultimate peers

[timothymeehan]

wanted to see this production when it came to San Francisco……..but the cheapest tix available were around $600-$700, so……😡😱🎭

[namishusband]

Man, this is mighty awkward after recent events.

[shantishanti]

I hope this man is cleared of all charges in this 2023 London case. He is a man of theatre and loves his trade. Sexuality can ruin your life and your career no matter how good you are at your career. What a loss and what a shame. Who can you trust when you have success wealth and status. No one.

[theartfuldodger]

But when Kevin Spacey does it, it's Richard the Turd Burglar.