Martin Freeman will lead the first production of Jamie Lloyd’s second Trafalgar Transformed season, taking on the role of Shakespeare’s tyrannical monarch in Richard III from 1 July at the Trafalgar Studios.
The Sherlock star was last seen on the London stage in the Royal Court’s hit production of Clybourne Park, but is best known for his screen roles playing Dr Watson alongside Benedict Cumberbatch in the BBC detective series and Bilbo Baggins in blockbuster movie trilogy The Hobbit. The actor’s other theatre credits include Kosher Harry at the Royal Court and Blue Eyes And Heels at the Soho Theatre.
The Bard’s history play about the English monarch’s destructive journey to absolute power marks the second Shakespearean production staged by director Lloyd as part of Trafalgar Transformed. The inaugural production of his first season, which also included Harold Pinter’s The Hothouse and Alexi Kaye Campbell’s The Pride, saw James McAvoy take on the title role in Macbeth.
The second Trafalgar Transformed season will see the return of 2013’s special ticketing initiative, which will once again offer £15 Monday tickets in an attempt to attract first-time theatregoers to the production.
Talking about his second season, Lloyd said: “I am confident that, with the brilliant and hugely popular Martin Freeman playing the title role in a provocative production, we will continue to attract a generational mix of theatregoers to our corner of the West End. I have wanted to work with Martin for many years and am sure he will bring something unexpected and unique to this iconic role.”
Richard III, which will play until 27 September, is to open at the Trafalgar Studios following the current revival of Olivier Award-winning play Another Country. Tickets for the production are not yet on sale but theatre fans are being directed to www.trafalgartransformed.com to register their details.