Post-Fargo, Martin Freeman heads to West End to play Richard III


Shakespeare’s Richard III. Seems like a logical next step after Fargo, right? Not sure Martin Freeman will be pulling much from his performance as Lester Nygaard but he will be following in the footsteps of fellow Sherlock co-star, Benedict Cumberbatch, and head to the Trafalgar Studios in London’s West End beginning this summer to tackle Shakespeare’s doomed Richard III as part of the Trafalgar Transformed upcoming season.
 
Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch in Sherlock

Many people always wonder what sets British actors apart from their American counterparts. Consider the simple fact that, in recent years, you’ve had David Tennant playing Hamlet and Richard II, Jude Law as Henry V, and Tom Hiddleston as Coriolanus. No need to even mention the usual suspects of the greatness of Kenneth Branagh, Sir Patrick Stewart, etc. Combining this with the historically deep, albeit declining, tradition of regional theatre that exists in the UK and I think you have your answer.

Given that Cumberbatch’s Hamlet already scheduled to be staged at the Barbican Theatre from August to October 2015 and Freeman’s Richard III will run from the 1 July to 27 September 2014, I’m thinking an October start to a Sherlock 4 production cycle would be perfect, but what do I know?


In: Actors/Actresses,Drama