Richard II Tickets

Award-winning actor Jonathan Bailey (Fellow Travelers, Bridgerton) is back on the stage in the capital, this time starring in a thrilling revival of William Shakespeare's brilliant play Richard II. A cracking supporting cast and an exceptional creative team completes the picture, not to be missed.

Richard II the story

Richard II is a terrible king. He’s charismatic, flamboyant and witty but he’s also lethally dishonest and politically inept. It’s a story we still see unfolding on the world’s political stage: the person in charge has every right to be the boss, but they seem determined to wreck the country they control.

This is one of The Bard’s most subtle, clever and ambiguous plays, weaving the story of two powerful figures: the autocratic king, who truly believes god is on his side, and pragmatic Henry Bolingbroke, whose authority and gravitas are the real deal.

About Shakespeare’s Richard II

The play is based on the real Richard 2nd who was on the throne for a chaotic twenty two years between 1377 and 1399. It’s the first of a series of four historical plays, followed by Henry 4th Part 1, Henry 4th Part 2, and Henry 5th. First performed in the year 1595 at Edward Hoby’s home on Canon Row, John Gieguld's portrayal of Richard at the Old Vic in 1929 remains the best-respected, almost a century ago but still resonating down the decades.

Richard II cast and creatives

Richard II is played by Jonathan Bailey, who portrayed Cassio in Nicholas Hytner’s Othello and Edgar in the legendary King Lear production starring Ian McKellen. He won an Olivier for his role as Jamie in Company, and takes the role of Fiyero in the Wicked movie.

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.