The Orange Tree Theatre has announced a Shakespeare double-bill for spring 2027, pairing King Lear and Richard II in repertory under the direction of artistic director Tom Littler.
Roger Allam and Freddie Fox will lead both productions, taking on contrasting roles across the two plays. In King Lear, Allam will play the ageing king opposite Fox as Edmund, the ruthless and manipulative outsider whose ambition helps drive the kingdom into chaos. In Richard II, Fox takes the title role of Shakespeare’s doomed monarch, while Allam will appear as the Duke of York, Richard’s conflicted uncle and one of the play’s key moral voices.
King Lear is widely regarded as one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies — a brutal study of power, pride, ageing and family betrayal. Lear’s decision to divide his kingdom between his daughters unleashes political collapse and personal catastrophe, with the play charting his descent from absolute authority into madness and despair. Allam has previously spoken King Lear’s famous speeches, including the “Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks!” storm monologue, capturing Lear at the height of his rage and psychological unravelling.
Richard II, written nearly a decade earlier, forms part of Shakespeare’s history cycle and explores the fragility of kingship and divine right. The play follows Richard’s downfall after he alienates allies and loses the support of the nobility, eventually leading to his deposition by Bolingbroke, the future Henry IV. The role has long attracted major classical actors for its combination of poetic introspection and political tragedy.
The productions will play at the Orange Tree before transferring to Theatre Royal Bath from 13 to 24 April 2027, with London dates at Orange Tree Theatre still to be announced.