Richard II, believing he’s king by divine right, is confronted by rebellion. He becomes isolated, with a shrinking band of supporters, and detached from the country and its people. Shakespeare’s play questions the meaning of ‘monarchy’ if a divinely appointed sovereign can be pushed aside, and a man with no such claim replaces him in power. Kevin Spacey makes his Shakespearean debut in the UK as the doomed king coming to terms with a life stripped of authority.

This is also the first time that Trevor Nunn has directed this celebrated play, and follows his Olivier Award-winning re-investigation of Hamlet at The Old Vic last year.