London Theatre Company have today released a first look of Jonathan Bailey and the company of Richard II on their first day of rehearsals. Directed by Nicholas Hytner, this fresh take on Shakespeare’s subtle, caustic and powerful play is in rehearsals now and performances begin 10 February 2025 at the Bridge Theatre playing for 13 weeks only, until 10 May 2025.
The cast stars Jonathan Bailey (Wicked, Bridgerton, Company) as Richard II, with Royce Pierreson (The Witcher, Judy, Line of Duty) as Henry Bullingbrook, 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 Alice 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.
The cast is completed by 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 Lord Fitzwater, and Badria Timimi (Our Girl, My Brilliant Friend – National Theatre) as Abbess of Carlisle. Understudies are 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).
Richard II is charismatic, eloquent, and flamboyantly witty. And a disastrous King – dishonest, dangerous, 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. Shakespeare’s subtle, caustic, and powerful play revolves round two startlingly modern figures: Richard, an autocrat who believes he is divinely sanctioned, and Henry Bullingbrook, a hard-headed pragmatist who has genuine authority.
Richard II is designed by Bob Crowley (for the Bridge Theatre: Straight Line Crazy; The Book of Dust – La Belle Sauvage; in the West End: Olivier Award-winning An American in Paris) with Lighting Design by Bruno Poet (for the Bridge Theatre: Julius Caesar; A Midsummer Night’s Dream; in the West End: Tina – The Tina Turner Musical) and Sound Design by Carolyn Downing (Olivier Award-winning: Chimerica, Summer and Smoke and Life of Pi). Grant Olding (For the Bridge Theatre: The Book of Dust – La Belle Sauvage, A Christmas Carol; Two Ladies; A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Alys, Always and Young Marx) is the Composer. The Casting Director is Robert Sterne (for the Bridge Theatre: Straight Line Crazy; The Southbury Child; for screen: Game of Thrones; The Crown) and Christopher Worrall is Casting Associate. Lily Dyble is Associate Director, Jaimie Todd is Associate Designer, Max Narula is Associate Lighting Designer, Charlie Smith is Associate Sound Designer. Eleanor Dolan is the Costume Supervisor and Lily Mollgaard is the Props Supervisor.
Jonathan Bailey shot to global fame as Lord Anthony in the popular period drama Bridgerton. He has recently starred in the critically acclaimed Showtime series Fellow Travelers and as lead love interest, Fiyero in the global hit film adaptation of Wicked. Bailey has recently wrapped production on Jurassic World, leading the film alongside Scarlett Johansson. His prolific and acclaimed stage career includes playing Edgar in Ian McKellen’s King Lear and winning an Olivier Award for his portrayal of Jamie in Company.
For the Bridge Theatre, Nicholas Hytner has directed Young Marx; Julius Caesar; Allelujah!; Alys, Always; A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Two Ladies; Beat the Devil; The Shrine; Bed Among the Lentils; A Christmas Carol; Bach & Sons; The Book of Dust – La Belle Sauvage; Straight Line Crazy; The Southbury Child; John Gabriel Borkman; and Guys & Dolls. Previously he was Director of the National Theatre from 2003 to 2015.
Richard II will play the Bridge Theatre from 10 February until 10 May 2025.
Richard II comes hot on the heels of London Theatre Company’s critically acclaimed immersive production of Guys & Dolls which last weekend had its final performance; having played from 3 March 2023 to 4 January 2025. Over the course of its run Guys & Dolls won an Olivier Award for Best Choreography, 3 WhatsOnStage Awards including Best Musical Revival, the Critics’ Circle Theatre Award for Best Musical and the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Musical.
