Kevin Spacey receives standing ovation in first stage appearance since court trial

Actor delivered five-minute scene from Shakespeare during lecture at Oxford theatre in memory of philosopher Roger Scruton

Kevin Spacey was given a standing ovation at a theatre in Oxford on Monday night – in his first stage appearance since being cleared of sexual assault – after performing a brief scene by Shakespeare.

The 64-year-old actor delivered a five-minute scene from Timon of Athens during a lecture at the Sheldonian theatre, held in memory of the late conservative philosopher Roger Scruton.