King Charles III

King Charles III on Broadway Background

King Charles III is a new play by Mike Bartlett, whose previous plays include An Intervention, Chariots of Fire, and Earthquakes in London. Remarkably, the show is written in blank verse, which means it is in iambic pentameter but not in rhyming verse. The show transfers to Broadway following a successful run in London’s West End, where it transferred following an Off-West End run at the prestigious subsidized Almeida Theatre. Like those two productions, the Broadway run is directed by Rupert Goold (Enron, Macbeth). Furthermore, the lead role of Charles Windsor is played by Tim Pigott-Smith (The Icemen Cometh, Sherlock Holmes). This is a timely production following the successful run of The Audience, which deals with the weekly audience that Queen Elizabeth II holds with the present prime minister over the course of her reign.

What's King Charles III Like?

As it deals with contemporary political matters, this play is one of the closest works we may have to a version of what Shakespeare’s contemporaries may have seen during his lifetime. Without showing any disrespect, it imagines the scenario in which the present and long-standing Queen of England has passed, and her heir apparent has taken the throne. Furthermore, like many works of Shakespeare, this play has a surreal element, in which Charles’ two sons – Harry and William – see the ghost of their deceased mother, Princess Diana. In this vision, she tells each of them that he will be the greatest king of all. In light of a political scandal, Charles decides to become a commoner, and in effect, William becomes the new King.

Is King Charles III Good for Kids?

Yes, the show is most appropriate for children over the age of 8. Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the theatre.