King John Synopsis

King John Director Eleanor Rhode describes the story of Shakespeare's history play. How far will King John go to secure his power and his throne?
Shakespeare's King John plays at the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon until 21 March 2020.

[@DwRockett]

It’s funny, I feel like I’m always surprised to learn that Shakespeare had a play based on king John. Like the Henry iv- v I know instinctually, but John I never remember has a play

[@manudas6178]

This was an excellent production. If it was filmed please release it on dvd.

[@josephserrano9855]

wow

[@groveroadcottages-stratfor2896]

Book your theatre night stay at groveroadcottages.com

[@michaelnixon525]

So King John was/ is a woman as is the cardinal. Of course the Catholic Church has always had lots of female cardinals. What's Arthur in this version ? A Red Setter? Species - blind casting -that's what we want. Why don't you try doing these plays properly instead of adapting/ re-imagining and trying to make them ' accessible' ?

[@rodolphefonty9331]

Although I find your comment somewhat too harsh, I sometimes am fed up with systematic gender-crossing casting (my worst experience this summer was Helen Schlesinger as Falstaff) and present day (or futuristic) sets and costumes . Most people can see the relevance of a Shakespeare play without being explicitly told or shown.

[@OstrichRidingCowboy]

Why don't you try yanking the panties out of your snatch?

[@michaelnixon525]

Falstaff provides a good example of how awful this sort of stuff is. The Henry IV plays are about ( amongst other things - like the history ) the notion of 'fathering'. Effectively, Hal has two fathers - his biological father, the King - boring, tortured, guilty ( about his role in the death of Richard II), nagging, miserable - and the man, who in many ways he would like to be his father - the funny, life affirming, force of nature, hard- drinking, as he says ' Give me life' , Falstaff. So, it's about 'fathering' not 'mothering'. It makes no sense of the play for Falstaff to be played by a woman. It spoils the play. After fifty five years ( since Ian Holm as Richard III at Stratford in 1963) of going to the professional theatre - have seen scores of Shakespeare productions - I don't go anymore .....which I think is rather sad.

[@luckythreekingjohn1322]

wow

[@applemask]

The theatre probably doesn't.

[@aclark903]

There is absolutely no need to have a woman as the Cardinal in this production.

[@luckythreekingjohn1322]

wow