RICHARD II

About the show

A kingdom on a knife-edge. King Richard (Freddie Fox) is a monarch of absolute power and divine right to rule. Easily swayed and badly advised, Richard plunges England into an ever-deepening crisis, as his uncle, the Duke of York (Roger Allam), tries to rescue the country from disaster. But Richard’s enemies – led by his cousin, Henry Bolingbroke (Arthur Hughes) – are powerful, angry, and out for revenge. Shakespeare’s most beautiful and accessible history play is a story about the mysteries of gaining, keeping, and losing power. Richard is played by Olivier Award nominee Freddie Fox, one of Britain’s most exciting young actors, known for House of the Dragon and Slow Horses. Roger Allam, one of the greatest classical actors of his generation, plays the Duke of York. Together they lead a repertory company who all also appear in King Lear. Allam and Fox are joined by Arthur Hughes (Richard III at the RSC) as Bolingbroke, and Amber James (Ian Charleson Award winner) as Isabella. This repertory company will also perform in King Lear.