Richard is represented by Northern Lights Management.
After training in Drama and Theatre Arts at the University of Birmingham, Richard has enjoyed a 25-year career as an Actor: in Television, Theatre, Site Specific, Pantomimes and Musicals. For a thorough list of his credits and performance skills, visit his Spotlight CV.
On screen, Richard has appeared in ‘Hollyoaks’, ‘Coronation Street’ and ‘Emmerdale’ (in several different roles over the years), various short films and commercials (Go Outdoors, Motorpoint, Bensons for Beds and Vaillant, SBB (Swiss Federal Railway). Recent screen credits include Andy in the short film ‘Our Neighbour’s Ass’ (with Maureen Lipman, July 2024), Bishop Brown in ‘Emmerdale’ (May 2024) and Estate Agent in ‘Coronation Street’ (2023).
Much of Richard’s theatre work has focused on new writing, family entertainment and productions utilising his musical skills. Richard enjoys working on R&D processes and is proud that his work has included repeat bookings with the great majority of companies has worked with, including York Theatre Royal, Nottingham Playhouse, Tonguetied/State of Play Theatre, North Country Theatre, Badapple Theatre, archipelago arts, Fidget Theatre and Leeds Playhouse. He has also performed for many local attractions, including his own self-penned shows, and as a Storyteller.
Watch Richard’s screen showreel here:
Details of theatre productions Richard has performed in:
(For information about Richard’s work in Panto visit his Pantomime page)
Robyn Hood
A musical retelling of the classic tale for Fidget Theatre
Dates: May-July 2025
Roles: Much/storyteller, Sherriff, Guard
Director: Andrea Heaton and Ruth Cooper
“The production of Robyn Hood by Fidget Theatre showcases a cast that is certainly not lacking in talent or enthusiasm. The performers engage in multi-roling, adeptly singing and playing musical instruments throughout the performance, which adds a dynamic element to the experience.
—Sara Jackson, The Reviews Hub, 28/7/25
Sanctuary
A new musical for Red Ladder Theatre Company written by Sarah Woods and Boff Whalley
Dates: Sept-Nov 2024
Roles: Peter, Vigilante & Keyboards
Director: Cheryl Martin
“the songs are memorable, beautifully performed and skilfully incorporated into the action. The performances from the cast are all strong and they get excellent support from an extremely talented and committed young chorus of students” ****
—Yvette Huddleston, Yorkshire Post 8/11/24
“the most rounded character is Archdeacon Peter, Richard Kay smugly self-righteous about how he dealt with a homeless man in his church.”
—Ron Simpson, The Reviews Hub, 21/9/24
Mother of the Revolution
A new folk musical by Rosie Macpherson & Sean Ryan for archipelago arts. Site specific performances at Leeds Industrial Museum
Dates: May 2024
Roles: George Beecroft, James Backhouse, Carter
Director: Beth Knight
“a slick, unique, perfectly crafted piece of community theatre”
“Then there was the hilarious scene in the museum’s Machine Room in which Adam Bassett, Reece Carter and Richard Kay discussed the best pose to adopt for their long-service photography session.”
—Phil Hopkins, Yorkshire Times 4/5/24
Football Freddie
Children’s show for Fidget theatre
Dates: Leeds Playhouse and touring, May-July 2023
Roles: Commentator, Fred Farren
Director: Ruth Cooper and Andrea Heaton
“This is children’s theatre at its best”
“Richard interacts with the audience skilfully”
—John Kitching, Yorkshire Times, 1/6/23
“The device of having a commentator, a very versatile Richard Kay, worked well making sure the young audience kept up with the action whilst giving the adults some laughs.”
—Jeremy Morton, South Leeds Life, 2/6/23
“An absolute winner for children and adults alike” ****
“Kay was excellent in both his roles, switching from Uncle Fred to Freddie’s personal commentator Jeff with ease, making the audience giggle whenever he popped up to provide commentary on Freddie’s football skills”
—Jenny Eyres, The Reviews Hub, 1/6/23
Tales from the Great Wood
Family puppet show for Badapple Theatre, touring and festivals
Dates: 2021-2022
Roles: Hetty the Hare & Narrator
Director: Kate Bramley
Love Bites
Commissioned ‘love letters’ by York Theatre Royal
Dates: May 2021
Roles: Singer/Composer of ‘For the love of Singing’
Director: Juliet Forster
“Richard Kay’s crowd-sourced tribute to the power of singing, brims with undisguised glee.”
—Catherine Love, The Guardian, 18/5/21
“…a song as nimble on its feet as Fred Astaire and wittily delivered in the crisply enunciated manner of a Richard Stilgoe……Clever, humorous, warm and briskly energetic, and tuneful to boot.”
—Charles Hutchinson, Charleshutchpress. May 2021
“Richard Kay had us all in the palm of his hand by the time he’d finished his piece For the Love of Singing”
—Julia Pattison, Pocklington Post, May 2021
The Frozen Roman
Rural touring show for Badapple Theatre
Dates: 2019
Roles: Adrian
Director: Kate Bramley
2016-2020 – Richard worked as associate director for Badapple Theatre Company, co-directing 6 touring productions and creating youth theatre shows
The Revenge of Mr Trout
Children’s outdoor theatre and festivals show
Dates: 2015-17
Role: Mr Trout
Director: Kyle Davies
Shakespeare in his cups
Shakespeare’s drinking scenes, by Richard Hurford, York Theatre Royal production for the International Shakespeare Festival
Dates: 2015
Role: Zed
Director: Julian Ollive
Puss in Boots
Children’s show for Tonguetied Theatre, Telling Tales and York Theatre Royal
Dates: 2014
Roles: King, Ogre, Foley
Director: Kyle Davies
“Multi-talented Richard Kay provides live foley…with a bizarre array of instruments.”
“It is wonderful”
—Nick Ahad, Yorkshire Post, Dec 2014
“Opening with a prolonged, wordless musical sequence performed by talented multi-instrumentalist Richard Kay, the show gradually eases audiences into a world of storytelling and theatricality.
“all four performers are wonderfully engaging and create a magical tale which holds the audience’s attention magnificently.”
—British Theatre Guide
“an enchanting, imaginative, highly amusing French frolic of a feline story, performed with such obvious joy by a cast blessed with a witty, wily, sprightly script”
—York Press
Selected other early-career credits:
Production: Cinderella and Dick Whittington
Company: Nottingham Playhouse, 2006-2008
Roles: Buttons and Dick Whittington
Director: Kenneth Alan Taylor
“Richard Kay and Jenny Fitzpatrick, who played Dick and Alice, had incredible voices”
Mansfield Chad
Production: The Real Thing
Company: Bath Theatre Royal, 2005
Roles: Billy/Brodie cover, acting ASM
Director: Tim Piggot-Smith
Production: Pinocchio
Company: Leeds Playhouse, 2004
Roles: Gepetto and others
Director: Gail MacIntyre
“Students of any of the theatrical crafts, indeed experienced theatrical practitioners, could spend an instructive hour watching this version of the Pinocchio tale”
“Richard Kay…move(d) into a succession of memorably etched characters”
The Stage
Production: Old Mother Milly, Dick Whittington, Babbies in the Wood, Mother Goose
Company: York Theatre Royal, 2000-2004
Roles: Various
Director: Berwick Kaler and Damian Cruden
Production: A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum
Company: York Theatre Royal, 2000
Roles: Protean
Director: Damian Cruden
Richard Kay 