About the Show

Jonathan Bailey stars in Shakespeare's tragedy about a momentous struggle in English history.

Richard II, charismatic and eloquent, is loved by his friends but a disastrous king—dishonest, capricious, and politically incompetent. This enduring problem of dealing with a rightful yet destructive ruler is central to Shakespeare’s subtle and beautiful play.

Set in feudal England on the brink of modernity, the divinely sanctioned monarch Richard II faces the pragmatic challenge of Henry Bolingbroke's real authority.

Olivier Award-winner Jonathan Bailey (Company) stars as Shakespeare’s doomed king in Richard II. Nicholas Hytner (former Artistic Director of the National Theatre) directs this production.

Critic Reviews (7)

"Bailey inhabits and humanizes the king in a clean, clear, martial staging"
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"Bailey's petulant, self-obsessed king... never quite in control of his own emotions."
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"handsomely mounted, emotionally muted"
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"A fine supporting cast assist in a commendable, unflashy evening that...grows in power."
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"Jonathan Bailey brings a wonderful clarity and charisma to this tale"
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"Nicholas Hytner’s production plays like a thriller... Bailey glitters with feeling"
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"...Shakespeare’s play is an almost entirely male production"
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Cast and creative team