RICHARD II Becomes First-Ever Shakespeare Play Staged in the Parliament

RICHARD II (reimagined as a Westminster power struggle) is being staged in the House of Commons tonight 23 April, exactly 400 years to the day of Shakespeare's death.

RICHARD II then transfers from Westminster to the East End on Tuesday 3 May, with a week-long run at Arcola Theatre.

It is the first-ever performance of a Shakespeare play in the Palace of Westminster, and it will celebrate four centuries of the writer at the centre of Britain's national culture, in the centre of its national politics.

Tim Delap will play Richard, the charismatic leader who faces a challenge from Harri Bolingbroke (Hermione Gulliford), reimagined in this new version as a female Leader of the Opposition.

Tim Delap starred in Jean-Pierre Jeunet's Casanova, and opposite Benedict Cumberbatch in the BBC's To The Ends Of The Earth. His stage work includes The Woman in Black in the West End, UK tours of The History Boys and Regeneration, and All's Well That Ends Well at the RSC.

Hermione Gulliford's recent stage work includes 3 Winters and Hotel at the National Theatre. Previously she played Portia in The Merchant of Venice and Helena in A Midsummer Night's Dream,

This new production, created by young directors Jack Gamble and Quentin Beroud, gives refreshing new life to Shakespeare's 420-year-old verse. Scenes span from Whitehall to London City Airport. Lady Eleanor De Bohun, Duchess of Gloucester becomes Political Editor of the BBC.

Jack Gamble and Quentin Beroud said: "We want to demonstrate the ongoing power of Shakespeare's writing to speak to new generations and modern concerns. Staging this early masterpiece in Parliament will show how much Shakespeare still has to say about leadership and representation. Reworking Bolingbroke as a powerful female lead will give the play a renewed significance at a time where certain privileges still count for more than they should. We are thrilled to be presenting the first full Shakespearian production in the country's seat of power, and on such a special night. It will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for everyone taking part and watching."

IF YOU GO:

Dippermouth and Hartshorn - Hook Productions

in association with Arcola Theatre and Arts Theatre West End presents

A nation in uproar. A leader in crisis. An unlikely successor waiting in the wings. RICHARD II is a gripping political thriller about the seduction of power and the tragedy of losing it.

Saturday 23 April 2016 - HOUSE OF COMMONS, The House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA

Exactly 400 years to the day of Shakespeare's death, witness the world premiere of this exciting new production - live in the Palace of Westminster. This once-in-a-lifetime theatrical experience celebrates four centuries of Britain's most influential playwright, and shows his continuing power to thrill and

Arrive in Westminster Hall (the setting for Act 4 Scene 1 of Richard II), with its wooden ceiling built for King Richard in Walk through Parliament's Central Lobby, passing the statues of Richard, Queen Isabella and Richard's successor, Henry IV.

Tickets: £50

Enter the ballot now: www.shakespeareinparliament.com

Tuesday 3 - Saturday 7 May 2016 - ARCOLA THEATRE

24 Ashwin Street, Dalston, London E8 3DL

Nightly at 7.30pm, Thursday and Saturday matinees at 3pm

Tickets: £19 (£15 concessions)

Group rate: 1 free ticket with every 10 purchased

Book now: www.arcolatheatre.com | 020 7503 1646

Dippermouth is 'one of the UK's best new theatre companies' (Anthony Biggs, Artistic Director of Jermyn Street Theatre). It has staged sharp, exciting productions at theatres including Theatre503, Jermyn Street Theatre and Waterloo East Theatre. It delivers education programmes to engage and inspire, in schools across the UK and in partnership with organisations including University College London and the English-Speaking Union. Its inventive outreach schemes, including Free First Night - by which performances are staged for secondary school students free of charge - have engaged hundreds of people in the process of making and watching theatre. www.dippermouth.com

Hartshorn - Hook Productions is a modern theatrical entertainment company, based in London, producing commercial theatre in the West End, across the UK and around the world. Founded in 2007 by Louis Hartshorn and Brian Hook, H+H is now an internationally-acclaimed producer. Recent productions include Edinburgh Festival smash-hit transfer of Kingmaker, the twelve-month international tour of Away >From Home and the world premieres of The Easter Rising and Thereafter (Jermyn Street Theatre) and Jon Brittain's critically acclaimed Rotterdam www.hartshornhook.com

Arcola Theatre is one of London's leading off-West End theatres. Locally engaged and internationally minded, Arcola stages a diverse programme of plays, operas and musicals. World-class productions from major artists appear alongside cutting-edge work from the most exciting emerging companies. Arcola delivers one of London's research and development space to diverse artists, Arcola champions theatre that's more engaging and representative. Its pioneering environmental initiatives are internationally renowned, and aim to make Arcola the world's first carbon-neutral theatre. www.arcolatheatre.com

The Arts Theatre is an independent commercial theatre with two performance spaces, two rehearsal rooms, three bars and a café. Built in 1927 and steeped in theatrical history, it is the smallest receiving house in the West End. It is run by a small, dedicated team offering a home to some of the most exciting mid-scale productions in the UK. Our 2016 season is the most ambitious yet for the team. Headed by managing director Lizzie Scott and executive Director Louis Hartshorn the theatre has gone from strength to strength in recent years. www.artstheatrewestend.co.uk

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