Photos: Jonathan Bailey Channels His Inner Shakespearean Baddie in Rehearsals for Richard II

Photos

Photos: Jonathan Bailey Channels His Inner Shakespearean Baddie in Rehearsals for Richard II

The Wicked film star is playing the title role in a new production at London’s Bridge Theatre.

Olivier winner Jonathan Bailey is following up his big screen performance as Fiyero in Wicked with another bad boy: Shakespeare’s Richard II. The Bridgerton star is currently in rehearsals for the new production, directed by Nicholas Hytner and set to begin performances at London’s Bridge Theatre February 10. Opening night is February 18, and performances will continue through May 10.

Step inside the rehearsal room in the gallery below.

Along with Bailey in the title role, the Richard II cast is led by Royce Pierreson (The Witcher) as Henry Bullingbrook, Christopher Osikanlu Colquhoun (Absentia) as Earl of Northumberland, Olivia Popica (The Wheel of Time) as Queen Isabel, Amanda Root (Romeo and Juliet) as Alice Green and the Duchess of York, Phoenix Di Sebastiani (The Great) as Thomas Mowbray and Groom, Clive Wood (London’s Burning) as John of Gaun, and Michael Simkins (Guys & Dolls) as the Duke of York.

Also in the company are Adam Best (Peaky Blinders) as Sir John Bagot, Seamus Dillane (Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story) as Lord Surrey, Vinnie Heaven (Cowbois) as Aumerle, Jordan Kouamé (Wolf Hall 2) as Sir John Bushy and Harry Percy, Gerard Monaco (A Small Family Business) as Sir Stephen Scroop and Keeper, George Taylor (The Lady In The Van) as Lord Fitzwater, and Badria Timimi (Our Girl) as Abbess of Carlisle. Understudies Emma Bown (Romeo and Juliet), Martin Carroll (Twelfth Night), and Stephan Boyce (Aladdin) round out the company. Casting is by Robert Sterne.

Richard II is the Bridge Theatre’s first production since its highly acclaimed, immersive revival of Guys and Dolls, which completed its more-than-a-year-long run January 4. 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 also feature scenic and costume design by Bob Crowley, lighting design by Bruno Poet, sound design by Carolyn Downing, music by Grant Olding, movement direction by James Cousins, and fight direction by Kate Waters.

Hytner, formerly director of the National, is a two-time Tony and Olivier winner for his productions of Carousel and The History Boys.