Kevin Spacey set to bring Shakespeare to Doha

Kevin Spacey, Oscar-winning actor and artistic director of The Old Vic in London, will play the title role in Shakespeare’s Richard III for two performances at Qatar National Convention Centre, later this month.

Part of an international tour backed by the Doha Film Institute (DFI), the production is directed by Academy Award-winner Sam Mendes, who worked with Spacey on the 1999 film American Beauty.

The play will be hosted in Doha on December 16 and 17 in association with the Middle East Theatre Academy.

Qatar is the only Middle East destination included in the global tour with scheduled performances in Greece, Spain, Hong Kong, Singapore and Istanbul.

As well as Spacey, Mendes directs a formidable cast of British and American actors, including Maureen Anderman, Haydn Gwynne, Chuk Iwuji, Gemma Jones and Chandler Williams.

The tour is part of The Bridge Project, an initiative that brings together British and American actors in classic theatre productions.

Currently in its third year, The Bridge Project is a unique collaboration between London’s Old Vic Theatre, BAM (the Brooklyn Academy of Music) and the independent UK production company Neal Street presented by Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

Through DFI, Doha is a co-commissioner city for the Middle East leg of the production.

Amanda Palmer, executive director of DFI, said: “Qatar already has a small but vibrant local theatre scene, and this international production can only add to the appreciation of developing the local and international theatre.

"We’re also pleased to see Kevin Spacey’s interest in working with local talent through his educational programme, which will see him collaborate with young talent from Doha in a series of acting workshops, both in school and on stage”.