Are you related to King Richard?

Pop-up Globe launches search for NZ descendants of serial killer

Is your last name Somerset, Neville, Plantagenet, Ibsen, Constable,
Babthorpe, Cholmley, Slingsby, Bellasis, Talbot, Yelverton, Calthorpe,
Gough, Spooner, Neale, Frere, Stokes or Brown?

Pop-up Globe is searching for living relatives of King Richard III, the infamous King of England who died at the bloody Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485.

Richard, also known as Richard Plantagenet, was the subject of Shakespeare's dark comedy Richard III – now playing at Pop-up Globe – and cemented Richard's reputation as a serial killer who had his two young nephews murdered in the tower of London.

While Richard himself had no children, and is considered to be the last of the Plantagenets -- an illegitimate line of the Plantagenet dynasty survives today, represented by David Somerset, 11th Duke of Beaufort.

There are known to be several lines of Plantagenet relatives around the world, including in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Canadian-born Michael Ibsen, the 17th generation nephew of Richard III, was present in the UK at the start of the archaeological dig in a carpark in York, where the king's long-lost remains were discovered in 2012. Richard’s mother Cecily Neville could (mathematically) have several million direct descendants today.

People with the following surnames, all of which have been linked to descendants of Richard III, should check their family trees to see if they are related to the monarch: Somerset, Neville, Plantagenet, Ibsen, Constable, Babthorpe, Cholmley, Slingsby, Bellasis, Talbot, Yelverton, Calthorpe, Gough, Spooner, Neale, Frere, Stokes, and even Brown.

Those who believe they are from the bloodline are invited to contact Pop-up Globe. Any relatives who can show their familial connection to Richard will receive tickets to see Richard III in action, as well as experience a backstage tour and special meeting with the cast and company.

“Richard III is one of the most iconic and notorious Kings in history,” says Pop-up Globe’s artistic director Dr Miles Gregory. “He's portrayed by Shakespeare as a ruthless, devious, manipulative man who murders his way to the throne. However, the historic King Richard has a much better reputation. Having done so much research as part of our rehearsal process, we'd love to meet any living relatives of King Richard and host them at our playhouse."

If you believe you're related to Richard III, and can show some evidence of your relation, please get in touch with Pop-up Globe to claim your pair of tickets. Please note that the Pop-up Globe's research team will assess all claims and their decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into.

Email Hello@popupglobe.co.nz for more information.

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