BAFTA and Olivier Award winner Simon Russell Beale stars as the King in Shakespeare’s classic drama, The Tragedy of King Richard II in NT Live's first collaboration with the Almeida Theatre, with a live broadcast on Tuesday, January 15.

King Richard II is arrogant, reckless and vain. His weak leadership sends his kingdom into disarray and his court into uproar. Disinherited and exiled from the kingdom, the ambitious Bolingbroke challenges the throne and the king’s divine right to rule. Simon Russell Beale (Spooks, Penny Dreadful, Henry IV, Parts I&II) plays King Richard II in a new production about the limits of power, directed by Joe Hill-Gibbins (Little Revolution, Absolute Hell).

Since launching in 2009, National Theatre Live broadcasts have been seen by an audience of over 8 million people at 2500 venues in 65 countries. The first season launched in June 2009 with the acclaimed production of Phédre starring Oscar winner Helen Mirren. Recent broadcasts include Julius Caesar with David Morrissey and Ben Wishaw, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with Sienna Miller, Follies with Imelda Staunton, Rosentcrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead with Daniel Radcliffe and Hedda Gabler with Ruth Wilson.

The Tragedy of King Richard II will be screened live at The Courtyard (01432 340555); The Conquest Theatre in Bromyard (01885 488575); The Regal in Tenbury Wells (01584 811442) and Malvern Theatres (01684 892277) at 7pm on Tuesday, January 15.