King Charles III (play)

Production history

Its premiere production was at the Almeida Theatre from 10 April to 31 May 2014, with previews from 3 April, directed by Rupert Goold. Charles was played by Tim Pigott-Smith, whilst the cast also includes Margot Leicester as Camilla, Oliver Chris as Prince William, Lydia Wilson as Catherine, Richard Goulding as Prince Harry, Adam James as prime minister and Nicholas Rowe as leader of the opposition. A typical performance ran for two hours and 45 minutes, including one interval.

The production transferred to the West End's Wyndham's Theatre in September 2014 for an initial three-month run, later announcing an extension to the end of January 2015. When Pigott-Smith sustained a broken collar bone, he was replaced for five weeks by Miles Richardson.

Following its West End run, the play began a UK tour at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre with Robert Powell in the role of Charles in September 2015, ending with a month run by the Sydney Theatre Company (at the Roslyn Packer Theatre) making its Australian premiere in March 2016.

The play transferred to Broadway for a limited engagement with the original London cast, running at the Music Box Theatre from 1 November 2015 until 31 January 2016, following previews from 10 October 2015.

A newly mounted production of the play directed by David Muse with Robert Joy as King Charles began 7 February 2017 at the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington D.C.

Plot summary

Charles and his family gather following the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. Charles, as the new king, then holds his first weekly audience with the Prime Minister. They discuss a new bill for statutory regulation of the press, which has passed the House of Commons and the House of Lords and awaits only Charles' royal assent to become law. Charles is concerned that the law restricts freedom of the press too much, and would allow governments to censor the news and prevent legitimate uncovering of abuse of power by the government. He asks the PM for alterations to the bill, but the PM refuses. The two men spar, as the Leader of the Opposition arrives for a weekly meeting with Charles, an innovation the new king has introduced. The Leader of the Opposition expresses his own doubts on the bill, but he sees little alternative but for Charles to sign.

In parallel, Prince Harry has begun a relationship with Jess Edwards, a republican. Both Charles and Prince William have seen the ghost of Princess Diana, promising each man that he will become "the greatest king of all". The next day, Charles' butler hand-delivers the bill to 10 Downing Street, with 'Assent Reserved' written in place of Charles' signature. The PM holds a crisis meeting with the Leader of the Opposition and then goes alone to try to convince Charles to sign, but Charles continues to refuse. The PM then threatens to pass a new law bypassing the royal assent and then pass the press law, but Charles then dissolves Parliament before the PM can bring either of these plans into effect.

Protests begin across the country and especially in London. Charles increases the army guard at Buckingham Palace, offers his protection to Jess (whom the media have made the centre of a sex scandal), and agrees to Harry's wish to become a commoner. The Duchess of Cambridge (Prince William's wife Kate) proposes a solution: William will serve as a mediator between Parliament and his father. William announces this plan at a press conference without his father's knowledge and consent. Seeing this as a betrayal, Charles reacts angrily. Ultimately, Charles is forced to abdicate in favour of William, who plans to sign the press bill and restore the status quo between king and Parliament. The play concludes with Harry's rejection of Jess, and William and Kate's coronation as king and queen.

Critical reception

The London and Broadway productions have both received positive reviews.

Media

On 12 July 2015 at 10pm, BBC Radio 3 broadcast a recording of the play with the original London cast. This was repeated on 6 November 2016 at 9pm.

In March 2016, it was announced that the play will be adapted into a 90-minute TV film adaptation for BBC Two and Masterpiece on PBS. It will be adapted by Bartlett, directed by Goold and produced by Drama Republic. Tim Pigott-Smith and Oliver Chris are set to reprise their roles of Charles and William respectively for the small screen.