King Charles III (West End Edition) (NHB Modern Plays)

Mike Bartlett

• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Year: 2014
• ISBN:
  9781780015040
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Drama
• Index: Literature

Mike Bartlett's controversial 'future history play' explores the people beneath the crowns, the unwritten rules of our democracy, and the conscience of Britain's most famous family.

Queen Elizabeth II is dead. After a lifetime of waiting, her son ascends the throne. A future of power. But how to rule?

Drawing on the style and structure of a Shakespearean history play, King Charles III opened at London's Almeida Theatre, directed by its Artistic Director Rupert Goold, in 2014, before transferring to the West End.

'outstanding and provocative' the most spectacular, gripping and wickedly entertaining piece of lese-majeste that British theatre has ever seen' - Telegraph

'bold, brilliant and unstoppably entertaining' an intelligent, empathetic, moving look at the power and limitations of the modern monarchy' theatre doesn't get much better than this' - The Times

'extraordinary' a meaty, hilarious, dizzyingly audacious state of the nation political thriller' - Time Out

'royally entertaining' raises fascinating questions about the future of the monarchy' - Guardian

ACT ONE

1.1

Enter CAMILLA, Duchess of Cornwall, and KING CHARLES III.

CAMILLA.

My wond’rous Charles you looked composed throughout

You did her proud, for as she would have liked

You never showed your pain, but stood instead

A virtuous man of dignity and grace.

Immovable, inscrutable as stone.

CHARLES.

Please don’t. It’s simply what I had to do.

We’ll find no dignity in cov’ring up

The way we feel. What son should, standing

Waiting at his mother’s grave, stop his tears?

CAMILLA.

Are you alright?

CHARLES.

My whole existence has like most of us

Been built upon the ones who gave me birth.

And now they’re gone. That’s it. First Dad. Now Mum.

The only truth: I am alone.

CAMILLA.

Except for me.

CHARLES.

It’s not the same, Camilla. The love, with us,

It’s all my life, but never can replace

Parental word, a mother’s hand to hold.

But here – the others – back to statue –

It’s Catherine, and William.

Enter WILLIAM, DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE and CATHERINE, DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE.

Hello! You’re radiant, despite the grave

Restrictions of the mourning dress. It is

Your gift my dear, it’s what you’ve brought to us.

A sense of fashion, better hair as well.

KATE.

I never thought I’d see her pass away

CHARLES.

I felt the same.

WILLIAM.

How are you Dad?

CHARLES.

…

WILLIAM.

It must be hard to deal with loss combined

With gain. For soon, at last, you will be King

CAMILLA.

Not soon.

WILLIAM.

Three months –

CAMILLA.

Your father rules today.

KATE.

I thought the coronation marked the change

CHARLES.

You’re right, officially that is the case –

CAMILLA.

But England, Scotland, Northern Ireland

They cannot stand without a king or queen

For all the months it takes to organise

A coronation –

WILLIAM.

Wales.

CAMILLA.

Wales what?

WILLIAM.

Wales too.

You missed it out.

CAMILLA.

Then Wales. As well. And Wales!

KATE.

But surely constitutionally speaking –

CAMILLA.

Oh sweet my dear we have no constitution

Instead Tradition holds us to account.

KATE.

Tradition then, it still –

CAMILLA.

Tradition holds that on the death of kings

Or queens, the next is monarch straight away.

He needs no proclamation, needs no man

To shout ‘The Queen is dead, long live the King’.

Your father ruled the moment Granny passed.

KATE.

So coronation day itself is just

The ancient costumes worn, and lines to learn,

A slice of theatre, that’s played for fun?

CHARLES.

Not fun I think, for me, I hate those things.

HARRY enters.

CAMILLA.

Harry! It’s such a joy to have you home.

Even in such morbid circumstance as this.

HARRY.

I might head off. If that’s okay? I know there’s this thing,

but I’m tired.

CHARLES.

You want to go? Of course, we’ll say you’re ill, if that’s –

HARRY.

Yeah right, that’s it, I don’t feel well. Yeah.

CAMILLA.

Why? What’s the matter?

HARRY.

Er… Headache? But that was all good wasn’t it? It went okay, from what I could see?

KATE.

Do you really have to go?

HARRY.

It’s not… I mean… the whole… I’ve only been back a few days, can’t deal with all the chat. The people. It’s such a change from being out there.

CHARLES.

It’s important Harry.

HARRY.

Yeah but the headache though.

They look at each other for a moment.

Then he goes.

WILLIAM.

We should leave, and mingle with the crowds.

A single round should be sufficient, then

We’re at the Palace, yes?

CAMILLA.

That’s right.

C...