Richard III at the Globe.

The article focuses on the controversial casting of Michelle Terry, artistic director of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, as Richard III in the Globe’s summer 2024 production. The decision sparked debate due to Terry being an able-bodied actor portraying a character historically and textually associated with disability, at a time when there is heightened sensitivity toward authentic disability representation in theatre. The production notably reimagined Richard III as a comedic, Trump-inspired figure, emphasizing toxic masculinity through costume and dialogue, while employing a mostly women and non-binary cast. Despite incorporating disability elements through other characters, the choice to omit Richard’s disability and instead highlight political satire drew significant criticism from disability advocates and theatre professionals. [Extracted from the article]