It has finally happened, the Queen is dead and Prince Charles has ascended to the throne to become King Charles III.
Robert Powell portrays the new king in the days between his mother’s death and his coronation, depicting the woes and struggles faced by somebody new to the role of head of state.
Once you have got your head around royals such as Prince Harry, Prince William, Kate Middleton and even Camilla, who we all feel we know, being acted with such exaggeration, this really does intrigue.
Powell’s Charles takes the monarch’s right to warn those in Government to its extremes over a bill to regulate the press.
Of course, the consequence of pushing Britain to the point of civil war and of Prince Harry wanting to break away from royalty seems far-fetched in the slightest.
But the storyline poses serious questions about those in power, as well you and I, and what would happen if the ruling monarch was to interfere with the state.
Apart from that, Mike Bartlett’s play captivates throughout, written in the style of Shakespeare in places but leaving you puzzled as to what it is attempting to achieve in the sense of style.
There are layers to King Charles III, which have been well worth exploring on stage, and it is evident to see why this touring production received such generous reviews while in the West End.
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