The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has announced details of its new season which features three new Shakespeare productions that 'speak directly to our world today'. The Company has also revealed a major new partnership with global entertainment brand Tik Tok which will enable young people to access high quality theatre through a new ticketing initiative.

Gregory Doran will direct the premiere of Richard III which shows at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre from Thursday 23 June to Saturday 8 October 2022. The brand new production will feature Arthur Hughes in the title role and will follow on from Arthur's RSC debut in War of the Roses which shows at the Stratford venue in the spring.

Arthur is best known for his roles as Ryan McDaniel in supernatural Netflix series The Innocents and as Ruairi Donovan in BBC Radio 4 series The Archers. More recently Arthur could be seen in Jack Thorne’s Channel 4 care-home drama Help which also starred Jodie Comer and Stephen Graham. Ahead of his RSC roles, Arthur can be seen as co-lead in ground-breaking new disabled civil-rights drama Then Barbara Met Alan which airs on BBC Two and iPlayer in Spring 2022.

The new season also sees Blanche McIntyre direct All's Well That Ends Well which shows in repertoire with Richard III. A contemporary take on Shakespeare's dark comedy, the production explores themes of romantic fantasy, toxic masculinity and consent when it shows at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre from 16 August to 8 October 2022.

The new season also sees the return of First Encounters with Shakespeare. Twelfth Night is the chosen play which will tour UK theatres and schools in the autumn. The comedy of mistaken identity will be given a 21st Century update by Robin Belfield and will feature a set created by students at Birmingham Ormiston Academy made with reclaimed and recycled materials.

In a bid to inspire a new generation of theatre goers, the RSC has joined forces with global brand Tik Tok. The partnership was developed in consultation with the RSC's Youth Advisory Board and provides an opportunity for young people to see RSC shows for £10, whether booking independently or visiting with their school. The collaboration, which comes into force in June, will deliver unique creative and educational experiences for young people and students.

Tik Tok tickets are available for young people and full-time students (14 to 15 years) wishing to see a show in either Stratford-upon-Avon or London. Tickets for reduced-price previews cost £5.