King John

Hammerpuzzle’s King John was commissioned by Theatre Royal Bath as part of the Shakespeare Unplugged Festival 2014. It then toured the South West in Spring 2015.

Though often misjudged and overlooked as a lesser of Shakespeare’s plays, King John explores a political and social unrest that not only resonates today but perhaps gives us a glimpse of a future we are heading for. The world is dark and hopeless. The green and pleasant land of England is almost a myth. War and conflict is the norm in every country and children are used as pawns in grown men’s games.

As we zoom in on one such political conflict, that of King John and his young nephew Arthur, we discover that the heart of the matter is actually a matter of the heart. The bitter struggle for power begs the terrifying question; how far will we go to get what we want?

Hammerpuzzle’s King John is a high energy adaptation that captures the dynamic realism of this tragic story whilst holding on to the heart of Shakespeare’s original text.

If you are a venue interested in booking this show or further information please contact Lizzy Cummins.

Running Time approx. 70mins

CREATIVE TEAM

  • Writer/Composer – Tamsin Kennard
  • Director – Bryn Holding
  • Producer – Lizzy Cummins
  • Set & Costume Design – Adrian Gee
  • Lighting Design – Lloyd Evans
  • Touring Stage Manager – Martha Everett
  • Production Assistant 2014 – Claire Rowbotham
  • Puppetry 2015 – Tomasin Cuthbert

CAST

2015

  • Kirsty Cox
  • Laura Fautley
  • Sam Lawrence
  • Philip Perry
  • Charlie Ryan
  • Katy Sobey
  • Dan Winter
  • Max Moody/Jay Bradfield

2014

  • Ryan Cloud
  • Kirsty Cox
  • Laura Fautley
  • Marc Geoffrey
  • Danann McAleer
  • Max Moody
  • Charlie Ryan
  • Katy Sobey

Photos and film: Camilla Adams Photography

www.camillaadams.com

 

Previously:

The Egg, Bath
Merlin Theatre, Frome
Everyman Studio Theatre, Cheltenham
The Brewhouse Theatre and Arts Centre, Taunton
The Theatre, Chipping Norton
“Total clarity, full on design values, original music and a big emotional world.  Amazing!”
Shakespeare Unplugged Festival 2014 - Jill Bennet, Director
“The ensemble work is some of the strongest I’ve seen. The cut was fantastic and the set beautiful.”
- Audience member, 2015
“Really amazing! Very creative, a great adaptation.”
- Audience member, 2015
“Excellent, made Shakespeare accessible. Great combination of music and the acting.”
- Audience member, 2015
“It captivated me. Loved the look, feel, atmosphere”
- Audience member, 2015
“I loved the concept and thought the cast pulled it off wonderfully. I would like to see more history plays like this!”
- Audience member, 2015
“A really excellent production, fantastic use of puppetry and very strong performance all round. Loved the music too.”
- Audience member, 2015
“’I’m not familiar with King John, but despite his script being edited down to 70 minutes I'm sure the bard would have no complaints about Hammerpuzzle's version at The Egg as part of Theatre Royal Bath’s Shakespeare Unpluggedmonth. It's a kind of Shakespeare sampler, with tasters of crazy ranting, thrilling soliloquies, star-crossed young love, murderous ambition and poisonous come-uppance, even cross-gartering. And there's lively comedy and live music,and above all absolute clarity of storytelling. Director Bryn Holding retains the timeless quality of this historic tale while highlighting contemporary elements like Philip the Bastard's railing against “Commodity, the bias of the world”. The cast are fantastic in multiple roles, doing full justice to an emotional range from maternal frenzy to the still, chill, last moment of the little prince who is the innocent victim of these conflicts. Set and costumes heighten this sense of continuing relevance. Hammerpuzzle offer workshops as well as creating accessible theatre and this is certainly a show that could appeal to a young audience.”
- Crysse Morrison, March 2014