Following critically-acclaimed, sell-out runs at the Almeida Theatre and in the West End, King Charles III has its regional premiere at Birmingham Repertory Theatre this September. Robert Powell will take on the role of King Charles. The production opens at The REP from September 4 – 19 before embarking on a major UK tour.
The Queen is dead: after a lifetime of waiting, Prince Charles ascends the throne. A future of power. But how to rule?
Mike Bartlett's play explores the people underneath the crowns, the unwritten rules of our democracy, and the conscience of Britain's most famous family. Having been awarded the Olivier Award, Critics Choice and South Bank Sky Arts Award for Best New Play, King Charles IIIwillalso open on Broadway this October at the Music Box Theatre.
Robert Powell is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Jesus in Jesus of Nazareth (which won him a BAFTA nomination for Best Actor) and as series regular Mark Williams in Holby City. His theatre credits include Singin' in the Rain (Palace Theatre), Ubu Roi and Pirates (both Royal Court), Travesties (RSC), Tovarich (Chichester Festival Theatre), and more recently a touring production of Jeffrey Bernard Is Unwell. On television Robert starred opposite Jasper Carrott in five series of The Detectives, and has appeared in The Bible, Doomwatch, Shelley, Jude The Obscure, Looking For Clancy, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Pygmalion, Shaka Zulu, Hannay, The Golden Years, Frankenstein and The First Circle. His film credits include Colour Me Kubrick: A True...ish Story, The Thirty-Nine Steps, Tommy, Imperative (for which he won the Best Actor award at Venice Film Festival), Running Scared and Jane Austen In Manhattan.
Mike Bartlett previously collaborated with Rupert Gooldon Earthquakes in London and Decade. His other plays include An Intervention, Artefacts (for which hewon the Old Vic New Voices Award), Cock (which was awarded an Olivier Award in 2010 for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre at the Royal Court), Love, Love, Love (which won Best New Play at the 2011 Theatre Awards UK), Bull, Chariots of Fire, Contractions, My Child, Medea, 13 andmost recently Game.
Director Rupert Goold has most recently directed The Merchant of Venice (originally produced for the Royal Shakespeare Company), Made In Dagenham, American Psycho: A new musical thriller and will direct Medea this Autumn. His first feature film, True Story, which stars James Franco and Jonah Hill for Plan B and Fox Searchlight has just been released in the UK.
Joining Robert Powell will be Penelope Beaumont as Camilla, Ben Righton as William, Richard Glaves as Harry, and Jennifer Bryden as Kate. The cast also includes Lucy Phelps, Giles Taylor, Parth Thakerar, Tim Treloar, Beatrice Walker and Paul Westwood
King Charles IIIis designed by Tom Scutt, with musiccomposed by Jocelyn Pook, lighting by Jon Clark and sound by Paul Arditti. All other casting is to be announced.
