The Bridge Theatre in London has announced full casting for its forthcoming production of Shakespeare’s Richard II starring Jonathan Bailey (Wicked, Bridgerton, Company).
Directed by Nicholas Hytner, Richard II is playing at the Bridge Theatre for 13 weeks from 10 February 2025.
Joining Jonathan Bailey in the cast will be 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, and Clive Wood (London’s Burning, The Tempest – Theatre Royal Haymarket, Antony and Cleopatra – Shakespeare’s Globe) as John of Gaunt.
Returning to the Bridge Theatre is 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 Business, Children 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 – Original Shakespeare Co, Sex Education), Martin Carroll (Twelfth Night, Richard III – The Apollo, The Royal Hunt of the Sun – National Theatre) and Stephan Boyce (Aladdin – Lyric Hammersmith, The Coloured Valentino – Arcola Theatre).
Jonathan Bailey and Nicholas Hytner reunite following Othello at the National Theatre in 2013.
Richard II is one of Shakespeare’s most famous history plays, centred on the tragic downfall of the King, and the machinations of his noblemen.
Richard II will be designed by Bob Crowley, with an auditorium that is a hybrid configuration between in-the-round and traverse. Other creatives include 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, and Props supervisor Lily Mollgaard.
Jonathan Bailey is currently busy promoting the worldwide cinema release of the first Wicked movie, where he plays Fiyero alongside Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. He is also set to star in the next Jurassic Park movie – Jurassic World 4.
Video: Richard II – Family tree with casting
Bailey returns to the London stage following his Olivier Award-winning performance in Marianne Elliott’s acclaimed production of Stephen Sondheim musical Company at the Gielgud Theatre. His other theatre credits include Cock at the West End’s Ambassadors Theatre; King Lear at Chichester Festival Theatre starring Ian McKellen; Girl with a Pearl Earring (Cambridge Arts Theatre, West End), Les Miserables (West End), and A Christmas Carol (RSC at the Barbican).
Nicholas Hytner’s other current projects include directing John Lithgow in Giant at the Royal Court Theatre, until 16 November 2024; and directing a new Alan Bennett movie titled The Choral starring Ralph Fiennes, Simon Russell-Beale and Jim Broadbent.
Currently playing at the Bridge Theatre is Nicholas Hytner’s acclaimed production of classic Broadway musical Guys & Dolls, which ends its run in London on 4 January 2025.
Richard II is playing at the Bridge Theatre from 10 February to 10 May 2025.
Book tickets to Richard II at the Bridge Theatre in London
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