Smith Street Stage is performing Shakespeare’s rarely-produced history, “Richard II,” at the Mark O’Donnell Theater ahead of the presidential election this fall. The show aims to shed light on the personalities behind politics and the fickle nature of power.

“Richard II” is about King Richard II’s power struggle with his cousin and rival Henry Bollingbroke, as well as outside reactions to the royal family. The characters confront the fragility and temporal nature of power, along with the shifting emotions involved in politics.

Director Katie Willmorth pitched the play for the fall 2024 season, anticipating the presidential election season and the many complicated experiences, questions and thoughts that people have around topics of leadership and power.

“I suggested this play partly because I knew Smith Street had not done it yet, and I think it’s a very good play that is not produced often, which I don’t know why, given how good it is. I was excited about the possibility of working on a play that has so much potential, and for a lot of our audience, it might be the first time they’re interacting with that story,” said Willmorth. “I felt very aware that we were going to be in an election cycle this year, and that always seems to bring a constant sense of searching and anxiety, and a feeling that there’s an urgent moment in history that seems to be unfolding. This play, while not about a democratic election, is about the royal family of England in the medieval period, but the characters have a similar level of concern about what’s going on with our personal lives and what’s going on with our politics.”