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KING JOHN

KING JOHN

Category

Play

Country

United Kingdom

Run Dates

Dec 13, 2001 - Feb 19, 2002

Run Time

180 minutes

Run Dates

2001.12.13 ~ 2002.02.19

Barbican Centre

London Premiere

2001.03.28

RSC

World Premiere

About the show

Director Gregory Doran treated the play as a political satire which chimed with contemporary scepticism about politics and spin-doctoring. Emphasising the dark comedy, the sparse set consisted of a bleached throne on a black wooden stage. Guy Henry was a shifty and petulant King John in a world of treachery and changing alliances. Dignity was comically undermined when Henry, late for his entrance, left the throne literally vacant before rushing on stage and hurriedly putting on his crown. The death of young Arthur was both moving and stunningly staged: the boy walked along the rail of the top gallery in the Swan Theatre and then appeared to fall to the ground from 18 feet (5.5 metres) with a sickening thud.

KING JOHN Info

Details

CAST David Collings – Cardinal Pandulph Trevor Cooper – Hubert Benjamin Darlington – Arthur Victoria Duarri – Blanche of Spain Joseph England – English Messenger / Robert Falconbridge Alison Fiske – Queen Eleanor Geoffrey Freshwater – King Philip Tom Harper – James Gurney / Prince Henry Guy Henry – King John John Hopkins – Dauphin Kelly Hunter – Constance Elizabeth Hurran – Soldier David Mara – French Herald / Melun Trevor Martin – Duke of Asturia / Peter of Pomfret Andrew Maud – Earl of Pembroke Colin McCormack – Earl of Salisbury Joshua McGuire – Arthur Drew Mulligan – Chatillon Jo Stone-Fewings – Philip Falconbridge Andrew James Storey – English Herald Angela Vale – Lady Falconbridge CREATIVE TEAM Playwright – William Shakespeare Director – Gregory Doran Designer – Stephen Brimson Lewis Light Designer – Tim Mitchell Music – Corin Buckeridge Movement – Jack Murphy production photo Jonathan Dockar-Drysdale © RSC

Where it's been performed

Barbican Centre

Barbican Centre

London

United Kingdom

RSC

RSC

Royal Shakespeare Theatre

Stratford

United Kingdom

KING JOHN | ITDb