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We are looking at the rise to the throne of Edward IV now, as we move into chunks of Shakespeare's Henry VI Part 3. The Duke of York has been slaughtered and his sons are in the ascendancy, Edward, Richard and George.Ìý

Allied with the Earl of Warwick, one of only three surviving characters from Part 1 at this point, there is a succession of battles between them and the Lancastrian forces, with the Yorkists winning and Edward placed on the throne.

Edward is a fascinating character.ÌýHis brother Richard is the more clearly defined at first, which gives Bill Laughey as Edward enormous room to create a portrayal of complexity and power.Ìý

We decide that whilst he does not seem to seek the throne overtly, his education and parentage mean that there is no self-doubt regarding his right to it once it falls into his lap.Ìý

He has no ideological compass, no idea what he wants to do with the power though, just an unshakeable self-belief in his own action.ÌýThis leads him to be fickle and unpredictable - pursuing his instincts suddenly but vigorously, and sharing his favours around court with no desire to establish consensus, casually playing favourites.Ìý

On a whim he marries a young woman who comes to court, upsetting an arranged marriage with a French princess and annoying Warwick who changes sides.ÌýHis brothers despair, ultimately leading to George's defection, yet Edward never doubts himself.ÌýHe is king, therefore he must be right, and the desires he feels must be right also.

The court of Edward is quickly becoming decadent and over-confident, setting the seeds of its downfall.ÌýBill is capturing Edward's mix of charm and arrogance perfectly, switching from an easy relaxed demeanour to a threatening one in a moment.Ìý

For Emily this is a great opportunity for her to play a grown up role.ÌýShe has played boys in the last two York Shakespeare Project Summer productions, and she is enjoying the opportunity to play a complex female character at last, and show us what she can do.ÌýShe doesn't get it all her own way though - elsewhere in the production she is doubling as a boy, so she can't escape the cross-dressing altogether.

Mark