Olivier winner Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton) will lead a new revival of Shakespeare's Richard II at London's Bridge Theatre next year, with performances running February 10-May 10, 2025. Opening night will be February 18. Bridge Artistic Director Nicholas Hytner will direct.
Bailey is an Olivier winner for his performance as the "(Not) Getting Married Today"-singing Jamie in Marianne Elliott's gender-swapped revival of Company, and has since rocketed to fame as one of the stars of Netflix's Bridgerton. He's poised to star as Fiyero in the upcoming two-part screen version of Broadway's Wicked, the first half of which hits movie theatres this Thanksgiving. He's currently filming Jurassic World, a new entry in the Jurassic Park franchise.
Richard II will be Bridge Theatre's first production since its highly acclaimed immersive revival of Guys and Dolls, which has been playing the London venue since 2023. That run is scheduled to complete January 4, 2025.
The history play centers on the precarious moment as England is poised to move from feudalism to modernity, and the charismatic but incendiary King whose political incompetence threatens to wreck it all.
The production will feature scenic and costume design by Bob Crowley and lighting design by Bruno Poet.
Additional casting, by Robert Sterne, is to be announced.
Hytner, formerly director of the National, is a two-time Tony and Olivier winner for his productions of Carousel and The History Boys.
