No longer booking
  • Venue Bridge Theatre, London
  • Performance dates Booking to 10 May 2025
  • Running time 2 hours 40 minutes (including interval)
  • Age guidelines 12+

Get tickets to Richard II – starring Jonathan Bailey

Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton, Wicked) stars in Richard II at the Bridge Theatre, directed by Nicholas Hytner.

Richard II, one of Shakespeare’s most famous history plays, returns to London in a thrilling new revival by Olivier and Tony Award-winning director Nicholas Hytner.

Shakespeare’s subtle, ambiguous and beautiful play finds feudal England on the cusp of modernity.

Richard II is charismatic, eloquent and loved by his friends. But also a disastrous King – dishonest, capricious and politically incompetent.

Echoing down the centuries is the perennial problem: how to deal with a ruler who has a rock solid right to rule but is set on wrecking the country he leads.

Richard II stars Jonathan Bailey, the multi-award winning actor whose work incudes Bridgerton, Fellow Travellers, Cassio in Nicholas Hytner’s National Theatre production of Othello, Edgar to Ian McKellen’s King Lear, an Olivier Award-winning performance in Marianne Elliott’s Company, and his upcoming role as Fiyero in the Wicked movies.

Richard II is playing at the Bridge Theatre in London from 10 February to 10 May 2025.

Richard II is charismatic, eloquent and loved by his friends. And a disastrous King – dishonest, capricious and politically incompetent.

Echoing down the centuries is the perennial problem: how to deal with a ruler who has a rock solid right to rule but is set on wrecking the country he leads.

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Performance Information

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Stars and Creatives

Who is in the cast of Richard II?

Starring Jonathan Bailey as Richard II

Also starring Royce Pierreson (The Witcher, Judy, Line of Duty) as Henry Bolingbroke, Christopher Osikanlu Colquhoun (Absentia, The Doctor – Duke of York’s Theatre, Comedy of Errors – RSC) as Earl of Northumberland, Olivia Popica (The Wheel of Time, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, The Tattooist of Auschwitz) as Queen Isabel, Amanda Root (Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream,  Macbeth – RSC, Persuasion) as Green and the Duchess of York, Phoenix Di Sebastiani (The Great, Top Boy, Anne Boleyn) as Thomas Mowbray and Groom, Clive Wood (London’s Burning, The Tempest â€“ Theatre Royal Haymarket, Antony and Cleopatra – Shakespeare’s Globe) as John of Gaunt, and Michael Simkins (Guys & Dolls – Bridge Theatre, The Crown, Silent Witness) as the Duke of York.

In addition, the cast includes Adam Best (Peaky Blinders, The Crown, Twelfth Night – National Theatre) as Sir John Bagot, Seamus Dillane (Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, The Invention of Love – Hampstead Theatre) as Lord Surrey, Vinnie Heaven (Cowbois –  RSC, A Midsummer Night’s Dream –  Shakespeare’s Globe, Cuckoo – Soho Theatre) as Aumerle,Jordan Kouamé (Wolf Hall 2, The Mirror and the Light –  RSC) as Sir John Bushy and Harry Percy, Gerard Monaco (A Small Family BusinessChildren of the Sun, The Kitchen – National Theatre, A View from the Bridge – Duke of York’s Theatre) as Sir Stephen Scroop and Keeper,George Taylor (The Lady In The Van, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows) as Fitzwater, and Badria Timimi (Our Girl, My Brilliant Friend – National Theatre) as Abbess of Carlisle.

The understudy cast includes Emma Bown (Romeo and Juliet â€“ Original Shakespeare Co, Sex Education), Martin Carroll (Twelfth Night, Richard III â€“ The Apollo, The Royal Hunt of the Sun â€“ National Theatre) and Stephan Boyce (Aladdin â€“ Lyric Hammersmith, The Coloured Valentino â€“ Arcola Theatre).

Who are the creative team of Richard II?

Written by William Shakespeare

Directed by Nicholas Hytner, Designed by Bob Crowley, Lighting design by Bruno Poet, Sound design by Carolyn Downing, Music composed by Grant Olding, Casting director Robert Sterne, Casting associate Christopher Worral, Associate director Lily Dyble, Associate designer Jaimie Todd, Associate sound designer Charlie Smith, Costume supervisor Eleanor Dolan, Props supervisor Lily Mollgaard


Important Notes

Content warning: This production contains depictions of self-harm, violence, death, drug use, and substance abuse. It also includes the presence of prop firearms, the sound of gunshots, flashing lights, loud noise, haze and the use of needles.
 

Access Performances: Captioned Performances: Friday 4 April at 7.30pm; Audio Described & Touch Tour: Saturday 12 April at 2.30pm

Venue Information

Bridge Theatre , 3 Potters Fields Park, London, SE1 2SG

Nearest Tube or Train: London Bridge (National Rail, Northern and Jubilee lines)

Nearest Buses: RV1, 47, 343, 381, 42, 78, 188

Directions

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Critics' reviews of Richard II

★★★★ "Jonathan Bailey is magnetic" - Financial Times

★★★★ "Jonathan Bailey gives the best performance I’ve ever seen of Shakespeare’s flawed monarch" - Evening Standard

★★★★ "Hytner’s decades of directing experience shine through" - The Independent

★★★★ "An illuminating production" - Daily Express

★★★★ "Riveting" - What's On Stage


Frequently Asked Questions

Richard II is playing at the Bridge Theatre in London
The running time of Richard II is 2 hours 40 minutes (including interval)
The age recommendations for Richard II are: 12+
Yes, Richard II has matinee performances on the following days: Thursday, Saturday
No, sorry, Richard II has now completed its run and is no longer on sale.