directed and adapted by Irwin Appel from the history plays of William Shakespeare

“Let us sit upon the ground, and tell sad stories of the death of kings…”

William Shakespeare, Richard II

Since 2015, Irwin Appel has passionately undertaken the task of adapting Shakespeare’s history plays from Richard II through Richard III into one captivating epic.

Experience over 400 years of history in one night at the Hatlen Theater, October 6-7, 2023.

After almost five years, Irwin Appel and Naked Shakes’s The Death of Kings is back at UCSB, and is gearing up for an exciting summer of immersive Shakespeare. The cast of thirteen actors will portray the rise and fall of some of history’s most renowned and notorious monarchs.

Don't miss this international production! 

Naked Shakes was invited to perform as the closing performance of the Verona Shakespeare Fringe Festival! On August 31, 2023, this company of actors, technicians, crew, factuly and staff performed in Verona, Italy, at the Teatro Camploy. Now, we are back from our Summer adventure, and are ready to share this incredible story with you once again. 

Hear from the Company

Gallery

Photos by Jeff Liang and Marek Sawicki