Happening Very Soon: “Richard” by Antony De Azevedo Comes to AFSF on Sept 18

The countdown has begun: in just a few short weeks, the Alliance Française de San Francisco will present an unforgettable evening of theatre with Richard, a strikingly original adaptation of Shakespeare’s Richard III, brought to life by acclaimed French artist Antony De Azevedo. Mark your calendars: this one-night-only performance takes place Thursday, September 18, 2025.

A daring, genre-defying interpretation, Richard is not your typical Shakespeare production. De Azevedo, who wrote, directed, and stars in the show, reimagines the infamous power-hungry antihero not as a medieval monarch, but as a modern-day homeless man lost in the underworld of a fictional Paris metro station named Pouvoir (“Power”).

There, amid fluorescent lights and discarded king cake wrappers, Richard finds a crown-shaped charm in a trash bin, and with it, the spark of his dark delusions and ruthless ambitions. This surreal, 75-minute two-person performance unfolds as a fever dream of power, madness, and decay, blending poetic tragedy with gritty urban imagery.

Alongside De Azevedo is Poppée Bashung who plays every other role with stunning fluidity and theatrical range. Whether as Lady Anne, Queen Elizabeth, or Death herself, Bashung’s performance is mesmerizing and chameleonic, transforming the metro station into a ghostly stage of Shakespearean echoes.

As we approach opening night, anticipation is building for what promises to be a cultural milestone for the Alliance Française de San Francisco. A tour-de-force performance, Richard is not just a reinterpretation of a classic, it’s a mirror held up to our fractured modern world.

Don’t wait: tickets are limited for this rare U.S. appearance by Antony De Azevedo and his creative team. This is your chance to experience Shakespeare like never before: underground, unfiltered, and utterly unforgettable.

WHEN: Thursday, September 18 at 6pm
WHERE: 1345 Bush St, SF
TICKETS: https://www.afsf.com/community/event-rsvp/?event_id=605

Join us very soon for this singular theatrical experience. Richard is almost here,  and he’s not to be missed.