Bridgerton star Adjoa Andoh leads stellar cast in Shakespeare’s Richard III at the Liverpool Playhouse

One of Britain’s leading actors of stage and screen Adjoa Andoh directs and stars in Shakespeare’s Richard III at Liverpool Playhouse from Thursday 6 to Saturday 22 April 2023. 

Adjoa Andoh is an Associate Artist at the RSC and has previously directed and starred in acclaimed productions at The Globe, including Richard II.

For many though, she is most known for her role as Lady Danbury in Netflix’s globally successful franchise, Bridgerton. With her mother growing up in Liverpool, Adjoa is looking forward to opening this new production in the city:

“I’m very excited because this is the first show that I would have done in Liverpool that my mum and family can see. They all grew up in Woolton in the late 30s, 40s and 50s.”

The cast includes Liverpool-born actor, Robin Morrissey who has appeared in numerous productions at both the Everyman and Playhouse, including Deep Blue, Sex and the Three Day Week, Twelfth Night, The Government Inspector, Juno and the Paycock and Gabriel. Other cast members include Antonie Azor plays Ratcliffe and Josh Day, who plays Dorset/Edward, Son of Clarence/Prince Edward/York (Puppet)/Captain Blunt as the professional theatre debut. Featuring acclaimed actors Clive Brill (Hastings/Mayor/Norfolk), Harry Clarke (Catesby), Sam Cox (Lord Stanley), Daniel Hawksford (Brackenbury/Edward IV/Richmond), Liz Kettle (Queen Margaret), Joseph Kloska(Buckingham), Oliver Ryan (Clarence/Archbishop/Mayor/Norfolk), Rachel Sanders (Elizabeth Woodville) and Phoebe Shepherd (Lady Anne) and Caroline Parker playing Elizabeth, Duchess of York.

Set in the Cotswolds where Adjoa spent some of her childhood, the production features traditional folk music from composer Yeofi Andoh and dance sequences from Jack Murphy (Choreographer for Bridgerton), assisted by Nicole Alphonce who also takes the role of Fight Director, with puppetry by Mervyn Millar, Maia Kirkman-Richards and Tracy Waller for Significant Object. The creative team also includes Amelia Jane Hankin (Set Designer), Maybelle Laye (Costume Designer), Chris Davey (Lighting Designer) and Benjamin Grant (Sound Designer).

Richard III is a story of jealousy and deceit, depicting the ascent of Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who manipulates and murders to eliminate any obstacles hindering his path to the throne. A significant player in English history, his death signified the end of the War of the Roses and the Middle Ages, heralding in the age of the Tudors. 

There will also be a number of accessible performances happening. The show will incorporate BSL on Tuesday 11 April, audio description on Thursday 20 April at 7:30pm and captioning on Saturday 22 April at 2:00pm.

A co-production with The Rose Theatre Kingston and Swinging the Lens, Richard III is at the Liverpool Playhouse from Thursday 6 to Saturday 22 April.

Tickets priced £11 to £50 are available now from here.