The production, which only runs for just over five weeks from 10th October until 16th November, will be the first in a new cycle of Shakespeare History plays that Doran will direct over the coming seasons. The announcement creates a sense of déjà vu– Boyd, as artistic director also produced The Histories in 2008 highly successfully, giving Doran a hard act to follow.

Veteran actor Oliver Ford Davies who also appeared in Hamlet, will also join the cast of Richard II.



Doran was with new executive director Catherine Mallyon as they made their first announcement as leaders of the RSC at the London press launch yesterday, outlining plans for the company’s Winter 2013 season and also talking about their ambitions for the company.

Erica Whyman, deputy artistic director joined the duo. Her responsibilities will lie in leading the revitalisation of The Other Place in Stratford as an experimental studio and home for new work, as well as playing an active part in forging new artistic collaborations and directing productions.

Other productions to take to the stage in the winter season include a world premiere of Wendy & Peter Pan by Ella Hickson, directed by Jonathan Munby (who was last at the RSC working with Doran on The Canterbury Tales) also in the RST (December until March 2014); world premiere adaptations of Hilary Mantel’s award-winning novels Wolf Hall and
Bring up the Bodies, by Mike Poulton, commissioned by Playful Productions, and directed by Jeremy Herrin, playing in repertoire in the Swan Theatre (December until March 2014).

Public booking opens Monday 18th March.

Antony and Cleopatra will also run in the Swan Theatre (as previously announced).