By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)
‘Now is the winter of our discontent’: Richard III’s opening speech from Shakespeare’s history play of that name is among the most famous speeches in all of Shakespeare’s work. Memorably spoken by Laurence Olivier in a 1955 film of Richard III – for which Olivier added some extra lines from 3 Henry VI, which focuses on Richard’s rise to power – the speech sees Richard outlining his motivations for seeking the crown of England.