King Charles III

While consideration of the role of the royal family in the light of the Platinum Jubilee gives this play a certain topicality, the context in which it was first presented in 2014 following the newspaper hacking scandal and controversy surrounding freedom of speech versus control of the press has somewhat dissipated over time. The issues are still relevant but responses remain variable depending on political conviction. Overlaid is the portrayal of royal characters the interpretation of which is also partly dependent on such political conviction as much as the way in which the piece is written. The central Shakespearean tragedy of a king torn between duty to the institution he is born to uphold and bequeath against a moral conviction to do what is right regardless of consequences was however captured in its lead performance.

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