Elizabeth Debicki to star as first female Richard II at RSC

By the Editorial Team · Friday, October 2, 2026

Elizabeth Debicki will become the first woman to play Richard II at the Royal Shakespeare Company in a production running from April to May 2027. This groundbreaking casting reflects the RSC’s continued push toward gender-fluid roles and represents a notable shift in the portrayal of Shakespeare’s traditionally male characters.

Elizabeth Debicki, the Australian actress acclaimed for her role as Princess Diana in the television series *The Crown*, is set to make history as the first woman to portray Richard II at the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). The production, directed by Daniel Raggett, will run at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon from April 10 to May 22, 2027.

At 36 years old, Debicki will join a distinguished lineage of actors who have taken on the role, including Sir Derek Jacobi, Jeremy Irons, and David Tennant. The casting marks a significant moment for the RSC, as it is the first time a woman has been cast in the lead for this particular Shakespeare play at the company. While this is a debut within the RSC context, other female actors have previously portrayed Richard II in different venues: Fiona Shaw played the role at the National Theatre in 1995, a casting that initially surprised critics, and more recently, Adjoa Andoh directed and starred in a version at Shakespeare’s Globe with a predominantly female and diverse cast.

Co-artistic directors Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey expressed enthusiasm about Debicki’s casting, highlighting her ability to convey an ethereal and regal presence that suits Richard II’s complex character—one who begins the play convinced of his divine right to rule before experiencing a humbling downfall. Evans pointed to Debicki’s height, elegance, and beauty as contributing factors that enhance this “otherworldly quality.”

Raggett, returning to the RSC for the third time, described the opportunity to work with Debicki on one of Shakespeare’s most psychologically intricate roles as a professional highlight. He praised the leadership at the RSC for cultivating an environment where some of the world’s most notable actors come to explore Shakespeare’s works.

Debicki’s theatrical experience is notable, including performances with the Sydney Theatre Company alongside Cate Blanchett and a role opposite Ewan McGregor in *My Master Builder* at Wyndham’s Theatre.

The announcement of her casting coincided with the unveiling of the RSC’s full summer 2027 season, featuring four Shakespeare plays alongside two world premieres inspired by novels from Virginia Woolf and Susanna Clarke. Adaptations of Woolf’s *Mrs Dalloway* by Zoe Cooper and Clarke’s *Piranesi* by Sami Ibrahim will join the lineup.

The RSC has increasingly engaged with gender-fluid casting in recent years. Besides Debicki’s upcoming role, the company is presenting an all-male production of *As You Like It*, starring Jonathan Groff as Rosalind, and reviving an all-female *Julius Caesar* led by Harriet Walter. These efforts reflect an ongoing commitment by the theatre to expand opportunities for women and challenge traditional casting conventions within Shakespearean drama.

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