PLAY GUIDE
2016
2017
About ATC .................................................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction to the Play ............................................................................................................................. 2 Meet the Playwright ................................................................................................................................... 2 Meet the Characters .................................................................................................................................. 3 The Real Royals ......................................................................................................................................... 5 The Line of Succession .......................................... ................................................................................... 12 British Parliament and Positions .............................................................................................................. 13 British Politics ........................................................................................................................................... 16 Royal Rituals ............................................................................................................................................. 18 King Charles and the Bard ........................................................................................................................ 19 Glossary ..................................................................................................................................................... 21 King Charles III Play Guide written by Chloe Loos, ATC Artistic Intern; edited and designed by Katherine Monberg, ATC
Literary Manager.
SUPPORT FOR ATC’S LEARNING & EDUCATION PROGRAMMING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY: APS
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PICOR Charitable Foundation
ABOUT ATC Arizona Theatre Company is a professional, not-for-profit theatre company. This means that all of our artists, administrators and production staff are paid professionals, and the income we receive from ticket sales and contributions goes right back into our budget to create our work, rather than to any particular person as a profit. Eash season, ATC employs hundreds of actors, directors and designers from all over the country to create the work you see on stage. In addition, ATC currently employs approximately 50 staff members in our production shops and administrative offices in Tucson and Phoenix during our season. Among these people are carpenters, painters, marketing professionals, fundraisers, stage directors, sound and light board operators, tailors, costume designers, box office agents, stage crew - the list is endless - representing am amazing range of talents and skills. We are also supported by a Board of Trustees, a group of business and community leaders who volunteer their time and expertise to assist the theatre in financial and legal matters, advise in marketing and fundraising, and help represent the theatre in our community. Roughly 150,000 people attend our shows every year, and several thousand of those people support us with charitable contributions in addition to purchasing their tickets. Businesses large and small, private foundations and the city and state governments also support our work financially. All of this is in support of our vision and mission:
The mission of Arizona Theatre Company is to inspire, engage and entertain - one moment, one production and one audience at a time. Our mission is to create professional theatre that continually strives to reach new levels of artistic excellence that resonates locally, in the state of Arizona and throughout the nation. In order to fulfill our mission, the theatre produces a broad repertoire ranging from classics to new works, engages artists of the highest caliber, and is committed to assuring access to the broadest spectrum of citizens.
The Herberger Theater Center, ATC’s performance venue in downtown Phoenix.
The Temple of Music and Art, the home of ATC shows in downtown Tucson.
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INTRODUCTION TO THE PLAY King Charles III By Mike Bartlett Directed by Matt August Winner of the 2015 Olivier Award for Best Play The Queen is dead. After a lifetime of waiting, Prince Charles ascends the throne with Camilla by his side. As William, Kate, and Harry look on, Charles prepares for the future of power that lies before him...but how will he rule? The play draws on the style and structure of a Shakespearean history play, but with modern verve, a comic subplot, and even the occasional appearance of a significant ghost. An exciting and Show art by Esser Design.
provocative new drama of political intrigue by Mike Bartlett, King Charles III explores the people beneath the crowns, the unwritten rules of democracy, and the conscience of Britain’s most famous family.
MEET THE PLAYWRIGHT Mike Bartlett (Playwright) is currently the Associate Playwright at Paines Plough. In 2011 he was writer-in-residence at The National Theatre, and in 2007 he was the Pearson Playwright in Residence at the Royal Court Theatre. His play Love, Love, Love won Best New Play in the 2011 Theatre Awards U.K., and his play Cock won an Olivier Award in 2010 for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre; he won the Writer's Guild Tinniswood and Imison prizes for Not Talking and the Old Vic New Voices Awards for Artefacts. Theatre credits include: Love, Love, Love and 13 (National Theatre), Decade (co-writer), Earthquakes in London, Cock, Contractions, Artefacts, and My Child. Radio credits include: "The Core," "Heart," "Liam," "The Steps," "Love Contract," "Not Talking," and "The Family Man," all on BBC. Screen credits include Earthquakes in London and Hometown. Directing Playwright Mike Bartlett.
credits include Honest by D.C. Moore. He is currently under commission from Headlong Theatre, Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse, Hampstead Theatre, and The Royal Court Theatre. 2
MEET THE CHARACTERS
Actor Peter Van Norden, who plays Charles in ATC’s King Charles III.
Actor Cathy Dresbach, who plays Camilla in ATC’s King Charles III.
Actor Kate Maher Hyland, who plays Kate in ATC’s King Charles III.
Actor Adam Haas Hunter, who plays William in ATC’s King Charles III.
Actor Dylan Saunders, who plays Harry in ATC’s King Charles III.
Actor Harold Dixon, who plays James Reiss in ATC’s King Charles III.
Actor Corey Walter Johnson, who plays Mr. Evans in ATC’s King Charles III.
Actor Gregory North, who plays Mr. Stevens in ATC’s King Charles III.
Actor Jeanne Syquia, who plays Jess in ATC’s King Charles III.
Actor Kathryn Kellner Brown, who plays various characters in ATC’s King Charles III.
Actor Christian Miller, who plays various characters in ATC’s King Charles III.
Actor Bill Chameides, who plays various characters in ATC’s King Charles III.
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Actor Aubrey King, who plays various characters in ATC’s King Charles III.
Actor Ali Wood Moser, who plays various characters in ATC’s King Charles III.
Actor Cera Naccarato, who plays various characters in ATC’s King Charles III.
King Charles III: The eldest son of Queen Elizabeth and the successor to the British throne. He is, for all intents and purposes, the reigning monarch. Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall: The second wife of Charles and the would-be queen consort. Catherine (Kate), Duchess of Cambridge: William’s wife. William, Duke of Cambridge: Charles’ eldest son and the heir apparent. Prince Harry: William’s younger brother, considered a “wild child.” James Reiss: The Press Secretary to the royal family. Tristan Evans: The current Prime Minister. Mark Stevens: The Leader of the Opposition. Jess: A republican art student.
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THE REAL ROYALS Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born on April 21, 1926, to the Duke and Duchess of York (laer to become King George VI and Queen Elizabeth). Elizabeth and her younger sister, Princess Margaret, were educated at home by their mother and governess, Marion Crawford (who later published a biography of the two entitled The Little Princesses in 1950) and focused on history, language, literature, and music; she later studied constitutional history and French. Although she was third in line to the throne, she wasn’t expected to succeed because of the relative youth of the immediate successor, her uncle Edward. However, Edward abdicated after his engagement to divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson produced a national scandal, allowing Elizabeth’s father George to become King Queen Elizabeth II.
and Elizabeth to become the heir apparent. The royal family remained in the country when Britain entered World War II in 1939, and 14-year-old Elizabeth produced a radio broadcast during the BBC Children’s Hour to comfort the youth who had been evacuated. Her sense of civil service continued in 1945, when she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service – the women’s branch of the British Army – and was trained as a driver and mechanic; she was promoted to honorary junior commander five months into her service. On July 9, 1947, Elizabeth announced her engagement to Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark. The event was not without controversy, as Prince Philip was not known for particular wealth, was born, had sisters married into German royalty with links to Nazism, and was part of the Greek Orthodox Church (from which he converted to Anglicanism). The couple were married in 1947, and Elizabeth gave birth to their first child, Prince Charles, a year later, soon to be followed by Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward. King George VI died in 1952 after a stretch of poor health and Elizabeth ascended the throne. Interestingly, the royal house retained the name of Windsor, rather than choosing to bear Philip’s name of Mountbatten. The coronation of Queen Elizabeth was the first to be televised, and she the early years of her reign continuing the transformation of the British Empire into the Commonwealth of Nations. France considered joining the Commonwealth but ultimately declined, and the Treaty of Rome was enacted to establish the European Economic Community, the precursor to the European Union. The 1960s and 1970s also saw a rapid increase in the decolonization of Africa.
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In 1977, Elizabeth celebrated her Silver Jubilee upon the 25th anniversary of her coronation, but they joy would be somewhat overshadowed by events in the next few years. In 1979, Prince Philip’s uncle, Lord Mountbatten, was assassinated by the Provisional Irish Republican Army followed soon by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s revelation that art historian Anthony Blunt, former Surveyor of the Queen’s Pictures, had served as a Soviet spy. The final constitutional ties between Canada and Britain were severed by the Canada Act of 1982, though relations remained cordial. In 1981, six weeks before the wedding of Prince Charles to Diana Spencer, six shots were fired at the queen while riding horseback in a public ceremony. It was later discovered that the shots were blanks fired by 17-year-old Marcus Sarjeant, who was sentenced to five years in prison. In 1982, Argentina escalated a sovereignty dispute by invading U.K.-claimed territories in the South Atlantic, and sparked the ten-week Falklands War. Neither state officially declared war, but the impact and resentment induced by the conflict persist. Also in the 1980s, the press became increasingly interested in reporting the private lives and opinions of the royal family, leading to a burst of sensationalist stories. However, despite the trials of the 1980s, Elizabeth declared 1992 her annus horribilis (“horrible year”) due to the marital strife of three of her children: the separations of both of her sons, Andrew and Charles, and the divorce of her daughter, Anne. Such familial strife was combined with additional unfortunate events: a state visit to Dresden during which she was pelted with eggs, and a major fire at Windsor Castle. The queen’s Golden Jubilee was celebrated in 2002 and she again went on tour, despite the deaths of her mother and sister in the same year. She again toured in 2012 for her Diamond Jubilee, though her travel has decreased in recent years. She was unable to attend the biennial meeting of the Commonwealth heads of government in 2013 for the first time in 40 years and was represented instead by Prince Charles, who is expected to assume increasingly more royal responsibility. To date, Queen Elizabeth II is both the longest-reigning monarch in British history, and the world’s oldest monarch.
Charles, Prince of Wales Prince Charles was born November 14, 1948, at Buckingham Palace. He is the longest-serving heir apparent in British history, having held the position since the age of three, and is the oldest person to be next in line for the throne since Sophia of Hanover, who died in 1714 at the age of 83. Although Charles originally had a governess, Catherine Peebles, he attended school from the age of eight onward, making him the first heir apparent to be educated outside the home. He began his education at Hill House School Charles, Prince of Wales.
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before attending Cheam Prep and Gordonstoun, two of his father’s former schools. He also spent two terms in 1966 at the Timbertop campus of Geelong Grammar School in Australia. Rather than proceeding directly into the armed forces as per tradition, Charles attended Trinity College, Cambridge, where he studied anthropology, archaeology, and history, becoming the first heir apparent to earn a university degree. He was formally named Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester on July 26, 1958, though he was not crowned until 1969. Charles served in the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force from 1971 to 1976. In the mid-1970s, he expressed interest in serving as GovernorGeneral of Australia, but Australian ministers declined the request. Although Charles was known for romance in his youth, his great-uncle Lord Mountbatten suggested that Charles marry his granddaughter, Amanda Knatchbull. Charles wrote a letter to her mother, Lady Brabourne (Charles’ godmother), expressing this interest; she responded positively, but felt that 15-year-old Amanda was too young. Four years later, Lord Mountbtten was assassinated just as the marriage discussion resumed; Charles proposed to Amanda after his tour of India in 1980 but she declined, upset by the recent losses of her grandfather, paternal godmother, and youngest brother. Charles instead married Lady Diana Spencer in 1981, whom he had met in 1977 while dating her elder sister. Their surprising courtship was met with doubt and intense media speculation, and their wedding was the first civil (not religious) marriage within the Royal family, and was not attended by the parents of the groom. Charles and Diana had two children: Prince William (born June 21, 1982) and Prince Henry (known as Harry, born September 15, 1984). Their marriage ended within five years due to their incompatibility, 13-year age difference, and concerns about Charles’ ex-girlfriend, Camilla Parker Bowles (whom he would marry in 2005). A year after their separation, Princess Diana was killed in a car accident in Paris, which prompted intense media scrutiny into Charles’ personal affairs. The scandal escalated to the publication of his personal journals that allowed the public to scrutinize his personal opinions on current issues, leading Charles to file a court case against the Royal Mail. Charles has an avid interest in charity and philanthropy, like his mother, and has established seventeen organizations to date (The Prince’s Charities), and is a patron of more than 350 other charitable organizations. He is also interested in architecture and urban planning, alternative medicine, and the environment, going so far as to launch his own brand of organic foods known as Duchy Originals in 1990. He is also noted for his deep respect of other religions, has published several books, and his hobbies include sports (polo, salmon angling), music (he played cello at Cambridge), and arts (watercolor). He was declared the hardest-working member of the royal family by The Daily Telegraph in 2008. According to Time journalist Catherine Mayer, Charles once remarked that “I feel more than anything else it’s my duty to worry about everybody and their lives in this country, to try to find a way of improving things if I possibly can.” 7
Camilla, Duchess of Corwall Camilla Shand was born into a gentry family on July 17, 1947. Her father, Major Bruce Shand, was a British officer-turnedbusinessman and her mother, Rosalind, was an adoption worker. She has two siblings: a younger sister, Annabel, and a younger brother, Mark, who passed away in 2014. As a child, Camilla loved reading and animals. At the age of 5, she was sent to Dumbrells School, which had a reputation for being harsh, but Camilla enjoyed her time there and went on to play ice hockey and stoolball. At age 10, she transferred to Queen’s Gate School and left with one O-level in 1964. When she was 16, Camilla attended the Mon Fertile finishing school in Switzerland before moving to France to learn the language and literature. Upon returning to London, she became a debutante with an interest in horses, fishing, horticulture,
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.
gardening, and painting, for which she enrolled in private tutoring. In the late 1960s, Camilla met Andrew Parker Bowles and the pair began dating periodically. He began dating Princess Anne in 1970, while Camilla met and dated Charles from 1971 to 1973. Despite the seemingly serious nature of their relationship, Charles and Camilla broke up after he joined the Royal Navy. Camilla instead married Parker Bowles; the wedding was considered the “society wedding of the year” with 800 guests, including Queen Elizabeth II. The couple had two children: Tom, born in 1974, and Laura, born in 1978, who were raised in the Roman Catholic tradition of their father. Camilla’s husband travelled often, due to his position in the British Army, and the couple amicably divorced in 1995 after 21 years of marriage. The split was attributed in part to the emotional strain imparted by the death of Camilla’s mother, in part to the death of Camilla’s mother, which was a difficult time for her. After the assassination of Lord Mountbatten in 1979, rumors began to spread that Charles and Camilla had rekindled their relationship, and the couple became public knowledge in the early 1990s. Due to the unfavorable conditions of their early relationship, Camilla slowly built up a repertoire with the royal family and, as time passed, was seen more often in their midst at public engagements. After obtaining consent from the Queen, the government, and the Church of England, Charles and Camilla married in April, 2005.
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Camilla has travelled extensively as the Duchess of Cornwall, and she is a patron or president of many charities, notably ones regarding health; she is also the honorary Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Navy Medical Service and became President of the Women of the World Festival in 2015. Her outreach interests include osteoporosis, victims of rape and sexual abuse, literacy, and animal welfare.
William, Duke of Cambridge The first child of Charles and Diana, Prince William was born on June 21, 1982. Diana wanted both William and is brother, Henry (Harry) to grow up with a wide range of experiences, so she took them to amusement parks as well as outreach centers; he also possess what he dubs a “Harry Potter scar” from an incident in which he was hit by a golf club in 1991. Princess Diana passed away when William was just 15, and Harry was 12. During his childhood, William attended independent schools and was privately tutored during the summers. He played football and basketball and participated in swimming, cross-country running, and clay pigeon William, Duke of Cambridge.
shooting. While at Eton College, he studied Geography, Biology, and History of Art; he also continued playing football and added water polo to his athletic repertoire. The choice to attend Eton was unusual; though Diana’s father and brother had attended Eton, it was traditional among royal men to attend Gordonstoun instead.Upon graduation, William took a gap year in which he traveled and taught children in South Chile. After returning to Britain, William enrolled at the University of St. Andrews, where he studied Art History and Geography, and earned a Scottish M.A. with upper second class honours.
As with his father, the media became very interested in his relationship with his roommate and girlfriend, Catherine Middleton, whom he began dating in 2003. At the age of 21, William was appointed a Counsellor of State and began serving in that capacity in 2003, the same year that he and Catherine became engaged. In 2006, William was admitted into the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and began his military career as a second lieutenant in the Royal Navy and Air Force, reaching the rank of a sub-lieutenant and flying officer. He then trained with the RAF to become a search and rescue helicopter pilot, allowing him to take an active role in the army without being deployed.
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Catherine and William were married in April 2011, and Catherine gave birth to George in July 2013 and Charlotte in 2014. Also in 2014, William enrolled in an agricultural management course in order to manage the Duchy of Cornwall. In mid-2015, he began working as a pilot with the East Anglian Air Ambulance. He is also interested in charity and outreach, for causes such as HIV/AIDs awareness, wildlife preservation, and education. Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge Catherine Elizabeth Middleton was born on January 9, 1982. She has a younger sister, Philippa, and a younger brother, James. Her parents were a former flight dispatcher and flight attendant; the Middleton family would eventually found a highly successful mail-order party goods company. Catherine’s father, Michael, worked for British Airways in Jordan from mid-1984 to late-1986. While living in Jordan, Catherine attended an English school prior to moving to Berkshire, where she attended St. Andrew’s School. She also studied at Downe House (which she left due to bullying), Marlborough College, and finally graduated from the University of St. Andrews – where she met William – with an M.A. in History of Art. Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.
In November 2006, Catherine began work as a part-time accessories buyer assistant with the Jigsaw clothing chain, while continuing to help with the family business. Prior to her engagement, Kate had worked with her brother to develop plans for a new bakery business that would encourage children to cook. As a result of her relationship with William, the media became highly interested in her activities, prompting her lawyers and the prince himself to issue warnings to the press on her behalf. The couple briefly separated in 2007, but reconciled and married on April 29, 2011. That October, commonwealth leaders adopted primogeniture in royal succession, which would allow the first child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to take the throne, regardless of gender. On July 24, 2013, Catherine gave birth to George, who is currently third in the line of succession. Their second child, Charlotte, was born on May 2, 2015. In additional to her charity patronage, Catherine is a volunteer leader with the Scout Association in North Wales and lends support to the M-PACT program (Moving Parents and Children Together), which focuses on the impact of addiction on entire families. Due to the media’s coverage of Diana’s death, William and Kate both request that the paparazzi maintain a respectful distance from their personal lives, though they continue to be media favorites in the U.K. 10
Henry, Prince of Wales Prince Henry (Harry) was born September 15, 1984. He was educated at independent schools and also attended Eton College, where he excelled in sports. His successful accomplishment of two A-levels enabled him to apply for commission as an officer; however, he was a reportedly poor student, and rumors about potential academic dishonesty. Harry spent a gap year in Australia, as his father did in his own youth. While in Lesotho, Harry produced the documentary The Forgotten Kingdom and worked with orphaned children of the region. Known as rebellious in his youth, he has been dubbed a “wild child” by the media and has occasionally been caught in compromising language or situations. He has also been romantically linked with Cressida Bones, and Chelsy Davy, the daughter of Henry, Prince of Wales
Zimbabwean, South-African businessman Charles Davy.
Harry entered Sandhurst in 2005 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Household Cavalry and was promoted to lieutenant within two years. It was announced that he would be deployed to Iraq, in accordance with his wishes, but threats against his person and his fellow soldiers curtailed his plans. He was, however, secretly deployed as a Forward Air Controller to Afghanistan, a situation made public after the media breached an information blackout. For his service, Harry was awarded an Operational Service Medal by his aunt, Princess Anne. He then learned to fly helicopters, attending the same school where his older brother had studied, and successfully completed the Apache training course thereby allowing him to return to service if needed.
In 2011, Harry was promoted to captain and spent time at a U.S. military base where he learned live-fire training; reports identify him as a natural pilot. He then returned to Afghanistan in 2012, despite additional threats. In early 2014, Harry began work as a staff officer at SP# (Defense Engagement) in London. Also in 2014, he launched Invictus Games, a sporting event for service people injured in the line of duty. Harry began working with the London District’s Personal Recovery Unit for the MOD’s Defense Recovery Capability scheme in 2015, which helped ensure beneficial recovery plans for wounded soldiers. He concluded his military career in June 2015. In addition to his appointment as a Counsellor of State at age 21, like his brother, Harry has often used sports to support charity the military.
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THE LINE OF SUCCESSION The British crown is inherited by the descendants of the sovereign, first by their children and next by the nearest collateral line, meaning the families of the sovereign’s siblings. Succession was previously determined by male-preference primogeniture, in which the male descendants are prioritized for succession, but was replaced by absolute primogeniture (birth order) in 2011. Only legitimate Protestant descendants of Sophia of Hanover that are members of the Church of England may succeed; while a member of the line of succession may marry someone of an alternate faith, they and their children may only succeed if they remain in communion with the Church of England. The first four members of the line of succession who are above the age of 21, consort, may be 2 0 1as 6 /well 2 0 1 7asSthe E A Ssovereign’s ON appointed as Counsellors of the State, who perform certain royal duties during the absence or incapacitation of the sovereign. Other individuals in the line of succession are not required to serve in official capacities, though some members of the royal family do have legal or official duties.ABOUT THE PLAY ( C O N T I N U E D )
LINE OF SUCCESSION Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh
Queen Elizabeth II
Diana
Camilla Captain Mark // Phillips
Princess // of Wales
#1
Charles
Princess Royal
Kate
#2 William
#5
Harry
Duke of Cambridge
Prince
of Cambridge
Sarah
Prince Henry of Wales
of York
#6
#9
Andrew
Duke of York
#13
#16
Peter Phillips
Zara Tindall
#7
Princess
Charlotte
Princess
Beatrice
of Cambridge
of York
#14
#15
Isia
Edward
Earl of Wessex
Mike Tindall
#4
Savannah
Sophie
Countess of Wessex
// Duchess
Autumn Phillips
Duchess of Cambridge
#3
#12
Anne
Prince of Wales
George
ViceAdmiral Timothy Laurence
Duchess of Cornwall
#17
Mia Grace
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#8 Princess
Eugenie of York
#10
James
Viscount Severn
#11
Louise
Lady Louise Windsor
U.K. PARLIAMENT AND POSITIONS U.K. Parliament Parliament is the highest legislative body in the U.K., led by the current Sovereign and seated at the Palace of Westminster. Parliament consists of the House of Lords (Upper House) and the House of Commons (Lower House). The House of Lords is made up of the Lords Spiritual, the highest bishops of the Church of England, and the Lords Temporal, peers (members of the nobility) appointed by the Sovereign in consultation with the Prime Minister. The House of Commons is democractically elected at least every five years, and refers not to the term “commoner” but instead to the French commune, meaning “district.” Under certain circumstances, the House of Commons can force a bill without consent of the House of Lords, but all legislation The Crowned Portcullis of Parliament
must be approved by the House of Commons. Crown-in-Parliament
The Crown in its legislative role, meaning the monarch acting with the advice and consent of parliament. This is based on the concept of fusion of powers, a system in which the executive and legislative branches of government are combined. The ultimate authority rests with the monarch, but is delegated to the elected and appointed officials of government. How does it work? Bills passed by the houses of parliament -- Acts of Parliament -- are sent to the sovereign or their representative for Royal Assent, which turns a bill into a law. Theoretically, Assent may be withheld, though this is unprecedented in modern times – the most recent refusal was by Queen Anne in 1708. His Majesty’s Government (HMG) The monarch selects the Prime Minister, who in turn selects the rest of the ministers from the Houses of Parliament. The PM and the most senior of these ministers serve as the Cabinet, who act as the Privy Council, or closest advisers to the Sovereign. While the monarch has certain executive powers such as the declaration of war, the making of treaties, and the appointment of certain officers and honors (the Royal Prerogative), in practice the monarch exercises such authority only in close consultation with the HM Government. 13
Prime Minister The Prime Minister selected by the monarch must be able to command a majority vote in the House of Commons. Usually the outgoing Prime Minister will advise the monarch on best choices for their own successor. The Sovereign holds regular confidential meetings with the Prime Minister, and after consultation, is expected to abide by the PM’s advice. The Sovereign, as Head of State, is expected to maintain political neutrality and may not vote or stand in elections. Speaker of the House The presiding leader of the House of Commons. The Sovereign must grant approval, which by modern convention is never withheld. The Speaker of the House is non-partisan, and votes only in the case of a tie. Lord Speaker The presiding leader of the House of Lords, who does vote in legislative actions.
Privy Council (Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council) Formal collective body of advisers to the monarch, made up of senior ministers. The Privy Council enacts Orders in Council, and advise on the exercise of the Royal Prerogative and the issuance of Royal Charters. The Privy Council used to act as High Court of Appeal for the British Empire, and continues to hear certain appellate cases, but most judicial activity is now conducted by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council rather than the collective body. The Sovereign is recognized as the King-in-Council or the Queen-in-Council when acting on the advice of the Privy Council. Though anyone can technically be appointed as a Privy Counsellor, appointments are expected in practice to only be made upon the advice of HMG; members have no automatic right to attend all meetings, but are instead summoned at the discretion of the Prime Minister. The three senior bishops of the Church of England (the Archbishops of Canterbury, York, and London) automatically become Privy Counsellors upon their appointment. Cabinet of the United Kingdom The decision-making body of His Majesty’s Government, made up of the Prime Minister and approximately 21 of the most senior governmental officials, usually heads of departments collectively referred to as Secretaries of State, all of whom jointly hold the same office and are equal in power. Primarily selected from among the elected members of the House of Commons, the remaining Cabinet members are selected from the House of Lords at the discretion of the Prime Minister 14
Commons, the remaining Cabinet members are selected from the House of Lords at the discretion of the Prime Minister (though officially this duty belongs to the Sovereign, in practicality it is exercised “on the advice” of the Prime Minister, whose recommendations are generally followed). The Cabinet is routinely “reshuffled” each summer, and the Cabinet generally meets each Thursday morning. Decisions are carried out either by individual departments, or by formal Orders in Council.
Ministers of the Crown Formal constitutional term referring to a minister or adviser to the Sovereign, who advises the monarch on exercises of the Royal prerogatives that affect the related minister’s department. The Sovereign is officially advised by a larger privy council, in actuality the Ministers of the Crown, known as the Ministry, directly guide the monarch as a smaller subset of the privy council. The traditional Crown ministers are known as the Great Officers of State, who originally emerged from the Royal Household of medieval monarchies.
Official Opposition (Her Majesty’s Most Loyal Opposition) The political party with the second-largest number of seats in the House of Commons. A total of 20 days in each legislative session are designated for opposition debates; 17 of these are determined by the Leader of the Opposition, and 3 are determined by the leader of the smaller (Tertiary) opposition party. Though the Opposition doesn’t hold any formal power, they exert influence through the unofficial “usual channels.”
Leader of the Opposition The leader of the party with the second-most seats in the House of Commons. The Leader of the Opposition is one of only three Members of the Official Opposition to receive compensation for their roles in the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet, which consists of the senior members of the Opposition and scrutinize their Cabinet counterparts and develop alternative policies to hold the government accountable for its decisions.
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BRITISH POLITICS IN BRIEF Brief Timeline of Power 1215: Magna Carta This document would have an effect on English perception of what a monarch could and could not do. It laid foundations for the concepts of liberty and direct the kingdom toward a constitutional monarchy. The King was limited to raising money only with the consent of a “parliament,” which was originally envisioned to consist of the King’s Lords and the Clergy. Over time, fewer noble people were consulted, and the group evolved into the Lower Chamber (House of Commons). 1642-1651: English Civil War The Stuarts ascended the throne after the death of Elizabeth I (of House Tudor), who left no heirs; their reign was plagued by financial and religious problems. Charles I attempted to suspend parliament to raise money himself after various charter attempts proved to be unprofitable. The war ended with the trial and execution of Charles I, the exile of Charles II, and the replacement of the English monarchy. Furthermore, the war established that the monarch cannot lead without the agreement of Parliament. 1652-1659: The Commonwealth/Protectorate Oliver Cromwell controlled the U.K., now a republic, with assistance from the Rump Parliament, consisting of the remaining members of the Long Parliament (which had begun in 1640) after Colonel Thomas Pride removed members who were unsupportive of the bid to try King Charles I for high treason. Upon Cromwell’s death, his son Richard became Lord Protector, but internal political divisions led to his resignation. 1652-1659: The Commonwealth/Protectorate Oliver Cromwell controlled the U.K., now a republic, with assistance from the Rump Parliament, consisting of the remaining members of the Long Parliament (which had begun in 1640) after Colonel Thomas Pride removed members who were unsupportive of the bid to try King Charles I for high treason. Upon Cromwell’s death, his son Richard became Lord Protector, but internal political divisions led to his resignation.
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1660: The Restoration Charles II reunited the English, Scottish, and Irish monarchies through the Declaration of Breda, which promised pardons for crimes committed during the war for those who recognized him as king, the retention of land obtained during the conflict, religious tolerance, and the reinstatement of the army under the crown in addition to payment of dues. Parliament amended many facets of the original Declaration. 1688:The Glorious Revolution King James II was overthrown by a group of English Parliamentarians and William III of Orange-Nassau, who then assumed the throne, citing James’ religious tolerance, Catholic faith, and French associations as reasons for his deposition. 1701: Act of Union Scotland and England joined Britain to ensure a financially stable Protestant kingdom. Queen Anne died heirless in 1714 and the crown transferred to the House of Hanover, surpassing the remaining Stuarts, who served the Catholic faith. 1715: The Jacobite Uprising Actually a series of conflicts, the Jacobite uprising intended to return James II of England and VII of Scotland to the throne and regain the crown for the House of Stuart. Sovereign King George I ceded power to parliament in return for their support. During this time, the term “prime-minister” came into use and the post was filled by Whig leader Robert Walpole in the early 1700s; the arrangement remained through the end of the century. 1832: Reform Act An Act of Parliament that introduced major changes to the electoral system, intended to fix abuses within the system that determined how members of the House of Commons were chosen. Before the passage of the Reform Act, members represented boroughs that were often under the control of a patron. The bill was passed in response to public pressure, although the House of Lords did not lend their support. Today The monarchy largely leaves politics to the U.K.’s politicians, and now serves primarily as a figurehead and icon of Great Britain. 17
ROYAL RITUALS Opening of Parliament An annual event, the monarch leads the Royal Procession to the chamber of the House of Lords. An official from the House of Lords known as Black Rod is sent to summon the House of Commons. The door to the Commons is symbolically slammed in his face to represent the independence of the House of Commons from the monarchy – a British monarch has not entered the House of Commons while it is in session since 1689. Black Rod then strikes his ceremonial staff against the door three times, is admitted, and tells the House of Commons to attend the monarch. The monarch then reads the Speech from the Throne, outlining the current governmental agenda. After the monarch leaves, each house considers a bill to symbolize their right to deliberate independent of the monarch. National Anthem “God Save the Queen” has become the de facto national anthem of the U.K., dictated by tradition rather than by any formal decree of government. Funerals State funerals involving specific military and religious ceremony are automatically held for only the sovereign, and are designated as national days of mourning. They can only be granted to others by an Act of Parliament, and other members of the Royal Family receive a Royal Ceremonial Funeral instead.
Succession and Coronation When a ruling monarch dies, the heir to the throne immediately becomes the Sovereign, but the coronation typically takes place months later. This is because the coronation is presented as a joyous occasion, that would be inappropriate during a period of mourning. Elizabeth II and Philip after her coronation.
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Weddings The practice of wearing a white wedding gown is thought to have begun when Queen Victoria wore one to marry Prince Albert in 1840. White garments came into favor with the leisure classes to demonstrate outfits that need not be used for work, and later came to represent the innocence and purity of the wearer. Christmas Broadcast King George V delivered the first of the now-traditional Christmas messages from the monarch in 1932, in an inaugural broadcast of the BBC World Service, formerly known as the Empire Service. Currency The names and likenesses of monarchs began to appear on coins around 800 A.D., to increase international profiles achieved by foreign trade.
KING CHARLES AND THE BARD Mike Bartlett does something unique in King Charles III; he writes a modern Shakespearean play. By focusing on members of the current royal family rather than their long-dead ancestors and using language more suited to our modern ears, Bartlett gives the audience a taste of how audiences in Shakespeare’s day would have responded to the Bard’s plays. He uses structural similarities, thematic elements, and references to classic works in order to let the audience experience the political intrigue and scandal of the play in a way similar to the experience shared by Shakespeare’s Elizabethan audiences. Shakespeare’s works are commonly written in a poetic form known as iambic pentameter. An iamb is a unit of poetic measurement (known as a foot) that contains two syllables: one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed syllable. Penta – the pref-x meaning five – indicates that a 19
Playwright William Shakespeare.
line contains five feet, and ten syllables in total. Here is an example of iambic pentameter from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night: “If music be the food of love, play on.” Iambic pentameter refers specifically to the rhythm of the poetry or dialogue, in the case of theatre. So, the unstressed and stressed pattern follows this rhythm: da-DUM/da-DUM/da-DUM/da-DUM/da-DUM. For an easy way to remember, just think of a human heartbeat. The line above should be read as: “If MUS-ic BE the FOOD of LOVE, play ON.” Despite the rigid construction, Shakespeare didn’t feel the need to remain strictly true to form, and often experimented with structure in order to reveal additional meaning. The audience would audibly catch breaks in the meter, allowing Shakespeare to call special attention to something regarding either the plot or characters’ feelings. For example, he would sometimes add an extra unstressed beat to the end of a line to express uncertainty or thought as in Hamlet’s problem: “To be, or not to be: that is the question?” Bartlett, however, often splits remarks into two lines, which Shakespeare did only rarely . Verse refers to words with a metrical and poetic structure, and was used by Shakespeare to represent the upper class, while the lower class often spoke in prose. Prose writing lacks the structure of verse; it often reflects everyday speech. By using prose, Shakespeare continued to interrupt the rhythm of the play and create contrast between characters. Bartlett works in a similar way; Harry is introduced in prose as he speaks with his friends and Jess, who also speaks in prose. Harry changes the way he speaks based on to whom he is speaking, which reveals the tension within his character about the world around him. Jess does the same; she speaks in verse when asking James for help and at the coronation, but in prose for the majority of the play. In addition, Bartlett structured his play in a very fluid five-act structure, as seen in most of Shakespeare’s work. While his stories cover a wide range of topics and individuals, Shakespeare’s work tends to contain similar themes. Many of his works involve power, ambition, temptation, appearances versus reality, betrayal, revenge, conflict (both internal and external), and disorder. While his comedies may echo these themes to a lesser extent, his tragedies are well-known for their political and societal intrigue as well as complex familial relationships. Many of these themes are echoed in King Charles III, often expressed as allusions (moments intended to suggest an idea) to characters and stories from Shakespeare’s canon. Although the show makes connections to a wide array of Shakespeare’s plays, it most clearly references Macbeth, Hamlet, King Henry IV, and King Lear, all of which are plays interested in the corruptible nature of power. For example, Catherine Middleton takes a turn as a Lady Macbeth character scheming for the throne on behalf of her husband and her own ambition, Charles is cast as both the hesitant Prince Hamlet and the aging King Lear as he distances himself from his 20
children, and Harry takes on the characteristics of Prince Hal, a young royal who goes slumming with the lower class, portrayed against Jess as his Falstaff. The ghost is an interesting aspect in that it references both Macbeth and Hamlet. Although both plays involve a ghost advisor or being that communicates something of importance to the protagonist, the ghost of King Charles III includes shades of the prophetic witches from Macbeth. See if you can spot any other Shakespeare references in the play!
GLOSSARY 10 Downing Street: The headquarters of Her Majesty’s Government and the residence and office of the First Lord of the Treasury, which has been held by the Prime Minister over much of the 18th and 19th centuries. Abdicate: To give up one’s throne. Abolish: To formerly put an end to. Ambulous: Linking to the word ambulatory, it is related to walking. 10 Downing Street.
Armorial: Relating to heraldry, which is the way by which bearings on armor are designed. Belfast: The capital of Northern Ireland. The Blitz: A series of bombing raids over Britain in 1940 and 1941 focused on industrial targets and civilian areas. Buckingham Palace: The London residence and headquarters of the monoarch of the Unite Kingdom. Since Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, there have nearly always been Front gate of Buckingham Palace.
corgis in the Palace, as she has owned over thirty.
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. Churchill: Winston Churchill is one of the United Kingdom’s better known Prime Ministers due to his influence during World War II; he also served from 1951 – 1955. Constituents: A person who lives and votes in a designated area. Contravention: An action that breaks a law, treaty, or other official rule. Coronation: A ceremony marking the formal rise to power of a potential monarch. Countenance: A person’s face. Crassly: Lacking refinement or class; tactlessly. Winston Churchill.
Craven: Cowardly. Daily Mail: A conservative British tabloid; it is the second biggest selling daily newspaper currently but was the first to sell a million copies a day. Diana: Princess Diana of Wales was Charles III’s first wife. Their relationship was fraught with media coverage and sensationalism due to their incompatibility and affairs. Diana died only a couple years after their divorce in a car crash. Doner kebab: a type of kebab, a doner is meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie that is usually served on a plate or stuffed into a pita or other bread as a sandwich. Originating in the Middle East, kebabs are popular fast food items around the world.
Princess Diana.
Edinburgh: The capital of Scotland. Fair weather friends: A term for people who stop being a friend during difficulty. Gollum: a creature from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth, he was a river folk that became corrupted by the power of the One Ring into a despicable creature. 22
Ire: anger. Keen: eagerness, enthusiasm, or excitement. Kensington Palace: A royal residence in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London, it the residence of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as well as, currently, Prince Harry, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and the Duke and Duchess of Kent (as well as their children). Leeds: A city in West Yorkshire, its history can be traced back to the 5th century. Leicester Square: A square in the West End of London, it is now an entertainment Kensington Palace.
center and major tourist center with a number of important movie theatres and events for the Chinese New Year. Liverpool: A major city and borough in northwest England. It has been dubbed the “World Capital City of Pop” by the Guinness World Records, due in part to its connection with The Beatles. London: London is the capital of England and the most populated city in the United Kingdom. It was founded during the Roman Empire, contains four World Heritage sites, and over 300 languages are spoken in Greater London. Morbid: Appealing to an unhealthy interest in disturbing, strange, or unpleasant subjects, especially those relating to death. Mortgage: A loan used by those who would buy property or real estate.
Leicester Square.
New Cross: A district of south London that is surrounded by multiple colleges. NHS: A publically funded health care system known as the National Health Service; there are four branches correlating with the four countries of the United Kingdom. 23
Norfolk: A county in East Anglia, it is mainly rural. Omnibus: Derives from the Latin for “for all” and originally refers to a vehicle but has other possibly meanings. Oxbridge: A combined word referring to the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge with connotations of superior social status and intelligence. Oxford: A city in the southeast of England, it is best known for its University and the exquisite examples of English architecture as the city has examples of every type since the late Saxon period (around 1000 C.E.). Patronizing: To treat someone kindly with an underlying air of superiority. Pensive: Reflecting in deep thought. Periphery: The outside of an area. Pleb: A term from ancient Rome used to refer to commoners. Poised: Grace and elegance. PR: An abbreviation for public relations, it is the management of information between an organization and the public. Prerogative: An exclusive right of privilege. Prol: Short for proletariat, a term that refers to members of the working class. Purley: A small town in South London. Quiz Machines: Commercial coin-operated video quiz games that offer cash that are usually found in pubs or bars. Reading: A town in Berkshire, it was an important location in medieval times due to its Abbey.
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Reagan: A conservative and republican president, Ronald Reagan was the 40th President of the United States from 1981-1989. He is most known for his economics. Dubbed Reaganomics, they emphasized tax reduction and the promotion of unrestricted activity for the free-market. Royal Mail: A postal service established in 1516, the UK Government sold its shares in 2015 ending 499 years of public ownership. St. Martin’s College: Before its merger into the University of Cumbria, St. Martin’s College had a national reputation in teacher training and nursing, supplying many teachers in the UK. Former U.S. President, Ronald Reagan.
Thatcher: Margaret Thatcher was the longest-serving and first female Prime Minister in the 20th century during her run from 1979 to 1990. She was also the Leader of the Conservative Party from 1975 to 1990. Politically, she was known for Thatcherism, which was the accumulation of her conservative policies, political philosophy, and ‘Iron Lady” type of leadership. Mersey: A river in northwest England. The quality of the water was adversely affected by industrialization and underwent a campaign to improve quality in 1985; in 2009 it was determined to be one of the cleanest rivers in the UK. “The Right to Warn”: One of the three rights of a monarch as determined by Walter Bagehot’s The English Constitution published in 1867. London Evening Standard: The dominant evening paper for London, it became a free
Former Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher.
paper in 2009 thus ending 180 years of paid circulation. The Sun: A highly popular daily paper involved in many controversies.
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Trooping of the Colour: The current monarch’s birthday is celebrated by this pageant. It takes place on a Saturday in June by the Household Division of HRM’s troops on Horse Guards Parade. It has marked birthdays since 1748, but it has served as a rallying event for British infantry regimes since the 1600s as they would recognize their colours (flags) of their regiment. Tube Platforms: Platforms upon which riders wait for the London Underground. Virulent: Extremely harmful or toxic effects. Wagamama: A British Restaurant chain serving Japanese ramen-inspired cuisine. Westminster Hall.
Westminster Hall: Dating back to 1097, it is the oldest part of Westminster Palace. Wetherspoons: A pub chain in the UK and Ireland, it was founded in 1979. The chain is known for converting unconventional places into pubs. Whitehall: A road in the city of Westminster, it is recognized as the center of Her Majesty’s Government and is lined with many ministries. William the Fourth: The last king of the Hanover line, he ascended to the throne in 1830 though he was not expected to inherit the crown due to his two older brothers. During his reign, there was a time of crisis as many (especially those in the House of Commons) sought Parliamentary reform, which hadn’t been changed since the 15th century. William was convinced to dissolve Parliament and the fresh election gained William the Fourth.
small victory for the reformists. However, the House of Lords was displeased and it took a few more years until reformation was secured.
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