Richard II

Richard II description

The Olivier winning star of TV’s Bridgerton , Jonathan Bailey, plays the evil king Richard II, a man who was charismatic and eloquent but also a disaster for the nation. You’ll love his portrayal of Shakespeare’s unscrupulous, unpredictable and politically ineffectual ruler.

This long-awaited new production of the Bard’s subtle, ambiguous play will delight you thanks to a stellar cast of excellent actors and an exceptional creative team.

The plot of Richard II

Richard 2nd may have been a charmer but he was also notorious for making terrible political decisions and surrounding himself with dodgy advisors. As a result, the people are not happy, and there’s a limit to how much of the king’s dishonesty and bad decision making they’ll take.

The play is based on the real King Richard II, in power from 1377 to 1399. It was first staged in the year 1595, in London, and since then has been produced countless times. The most famous of all is John Gieguld's portrayal at the Old Vic in 1929 and Richard has been played by many a brilliant actor since then, including Maurice Evans, Mark Rylance, and Ian McKellen. We’re sure Jonathan Bailey, a fast-rising star on stage and screen, will ace the role.

Bailey returns to the capital after an Olivier Award winning performance in Marianne Elliott’s acclaimed version of the Stephen Sondheim musical Company at the Gielgud Theatre.

Meet the cast and creative team

Adam Best plays Sir John Bagot, Phoenix Di Sebastiani is Thomas Mowbray/Groom, and Seamus Dillane plays Lord Surrey. Vinnie Heaven is Aumerle and Jordan Kouamé plays Sir John Bushy/Harry Percy, with Gerard Monaco as Sir Stephen Scroop/Keepe and Christopher Osikanlu Colquhoun as the Earl of Northumberland. Royce Pierreson is Henry Bolingbroke, Olivia Popica Queen Isabel, Amanda Root Duchess of York/Green, Michael Simkins Duke of York, and George Taylor Fitzwater, with Stephan Boyce, Emma Bown and Martin Carroll as Understudies.

The Director is Nicholas Hytner and the Designer is Bob Crowley, with Lighting Design by Bruno Poet and Sound Design from Carolyn Downing. The Composer is Grant Olding, the Casting Director Robert Sterne and the Casting Associate Christopher Worrall. The Associate Director is Lily Dyble, the Associate Designer is Jaimie Todd and the Associate Sound Designer is Charlie Smith. Costume Supervision comes from Eleanor Dolan and the Props Supervisor is Lily Mollgaard.

Starring

Jonathan Bailey

Playing at The Bridge Theatre

3 Potters Fields Park, London, SE1 2SG GB (venue info)

Directions