Former Doctor Who David Tennant returns to the Royal Shakespeare Company to play Shakespeare’s vain king, Richard II.

Tennant plays the monarch, who is given his place at the head of a country by God and God alone, leading his people by divine decree. Yet Richard is only human and suffers the same weaknesses and frailties of us all. His vanity is a threat to England, and promises to lead the country into a bloody civil war.

Tennant returns to the famous company after garnering much acclaim for his portrayal of Hamlet on stage, though he is best known for his televisual exploits as the galaxy-saving Timelord in Doctor Who.

Richard II is directed by Gregory Doran, Artistic Director of the RSC.