Richard II

Bailey At The Bridge

In a promotion from Viscount Bridgerton to the King of England, Jonathan Bailey returns to the stage in early 2025 in Nick Hytner's newest production for The Bridge Theatre. Bailey will star as the titular monarch in Richard II, the first of Shakespeare's tetralogy of plays about the wars of succession during the Middle Ages, otherwise known as the 'Henriad'.

While he is currently best known for his role as Anthony Bridgerton in Netflix's regency juggernaut, Bailey has been a stage stalwart for many years, beginning his career in the West End's Les Miserables as the cheeky orphan Gavroche. He later starred in plays such as The York Realist, Cock and went on to win an Olivier in 2019 for his performance in Company. 2025 will be a busy year for Bailey as in addition to leading this production, he'll also be on cinema screens across the world as Fiero in the upcoming film adaptation of Wicked!

What Is The Story of Richard II?

Richard II is portrayed as a capricious and vain monarch, convinced of his divinity, but failing to see the danger and precarious nature of his claim to the throne. Exiling all those who he sees as a threat, the banishment of Henry Bolingbroke would prove to be his undoing. Accusing the Duke of Norfolk of seizing his lands and plotting to murder his uncle the Duke of Gloucester, Henry leaves for exile abroad, promising to return for his rightful inheritance, with an army to support him. When Richard is distracted by a rebellion in Ireland, Bolingbroke returns quietly to England, intent on recovering his rightful property, and instigates an uprising against the incompetent king, much to the glee of his peers.