Old Vic artistic director Kevin Spacey will return to the venue's famous stage for the first time in over 12 months this Summer. The Oscar-winning star will appear in the title role of Richard III, under the direction of Sam Mendes. It will be the first time the pair have worked together since their memorable 1999 film, American Beauty.

The production is part of the Bridge Project, a collaboration launched in 2009, which sees the Old Vic working with Mendes' Neal Street Productions and the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) to spread Shakespeare and Chekov around the world.

Shakespeare's Greatest Villain?

Richard III  is one of Shakespeare's great villains and has previously been played by stage icons such as Laurence Olivier and Ian McKellen. The play opens with one of the most famous lines in English literature: "Now is the winter of our discontent."

Coveting the throne inherited by his brother, King Edward IV, Richard eliminates his rivals, including the two child Princes, to claim the crown. However, his Machiavellian rule proves to be short lived, with open rebellion leading to a climactic battle on Bosworth Field.

A Thrilling Partnership

Speaking about the collaboration, Sam Mendes said: “I am absolutely delighted to be working with Kevin again for the first time since American Beauty, and I am doubly thrilled that he will be leading year three of The Bridge Project. I’m also thrilled that the partnership between our three entities has strengthened and blossomed over the course of this venture, along with a host of invaluable international partnerships that have enabled us to extend the reach of global touring year after year,”

The Old Vic Spring Shows 2011:

A Flea in Her Ear Tickets

A Flea In Her Ear, written by Georges Feydeau in 1907, is a comedy of errors set against a backdrop of jealousy, misunderstanding and confrontation. It tells the story of Raymonde who, suspecting her husband Victor of having an affair, enlists the help of a friend to set a trap.

Cause Célèbre Tickets

Cause Célèbre is based on the true story of Alma Rattenbury, who was put on trial with her 18-year-old lover for the murder of her husband. In Terence Rattigan's thrilling drama, Alma’s future is put in the hands of a socially and sexually repressed jury forewoman, reflecting the changing values of the 1930s.