News from Camelot

NEWS FROM CA M E L O T THEATRE PLAY SCRIPT BY ELISA Mª LÓPEZ CABRERA 2007/08

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IES PEDRO JIMÉNEZ MONTOYA CURSO 2007/08

INDEX

FIRST ACT

3

SECOND ACT

4

THIRD ACT

5

FOURTH ACT

6

FIFTH ACT

7

SIXTH ACT

8

EPILOGUE

9

CAST

10

NEWS FROM CAMELOT FIRST ACT

Narrator 1: It is the year 650 in England. There is no king and people are fighting.

One night Merlin the magician has a dream . .

In the morning . .

Merlin: I see a won- The Archbishop dederful king. His name is Ar- crees: “Everyone shall have a thur! How can I find him? chance to draw the sword”.

Narrator 1: Morgan Le

Narrator 2: Merlin Fay appears .She encourages makes a magic stone. He puts Arthur to remove the magic a sword in it. Only the true king sword from the stone. can pull out the sword. There King Arthur: Shall I try? are hundreds and thousands Someone: you’re only a boy who try. But they aren´t Someone2: Try, son! Let’s all successful. have a good laugh!

Someone: You are not Narrator 2: Arthur the true king pulls hard, with astonishment to the crowd, the sword was

Narrator 1: After mon- released. People couldn´t beths of searching for their new lieve their eyes. king a boy appears..

Merlin: Aha! There you Someone 3: Who are are. I’ve been waiting for you? you. Today you will see how Someone 4: What’s a mere boy achieves what your name? many strong men failed to King Arthur: Arthur do.

The crowd: Our new king!

Narrator 2: a great King Arthur: but I don´t know stone suddenly appears. Upon how to be king the stone in an anvil, and into the anvil is a magnifi- Morgan le Fay: I knew cent sword. On the sword it. I knew he was the only one! in letters of gold are these This boy is the rightful King of words: Britain. I have seen all I need

WHO PULLS OUT THE to see! I’ll have to use my SWORD FROM THIS STONE powers.

AND ANVIL IS THE RIGHTFUL Narrator 1: Merlin arriBORN KING OS BRITAIN. ves, and challenges Morgan.

Merlin: If you are going to control Arthur and his destiny, you must first overcome my powers!

Morgan: Well, let’s just see!

3

SECOND ACT

Narrator 2: Morgan fails to do so. Defeated by Merlin, she and her cohort disappear in a cloud of smoke.

Arthur: Who are you?

Merlin: Don´t be afraid, Arthur! My name is Merlin.

With my help you can be king.

Medieval reporter: I’m a news reporter. My newspaper, the Medieval Times, has sent me to cover King Arthur’s coronation ceremony. After many years England has finally got a king.Many important people have come to see Arthur.

Look who is coming! A beautiful woman and a boy.

Arthur (whilst sitting on his throne): Who are those people?

Merlin: That’s your half sister, Morgan, and her son, Mordred. She can see into the future.

Arthur: Woooooow!!

Jester: My lords, ladies and gentlemen, can you please be seated as we are about to commence the coronation of our new king.

Medieval reporter: I can’t get a good picture, everyone is in the way. I’m sure I could earn a lot of money with this photo.

Jester: Hush…

thur!

Crowd: Long live King Arthur! Long live the king! Ar-

4

THIRD ACT

Narrator 1: After a happy coronation celebration in honour of the newly crowned ruler, Arthur takes Merlin aside asking him to stay and guide him as he learns how to rule the land.

Arthur: Will I be a good king, Merlin?

Merlin: Yes, Arthur. You will be a good king. I do not need to look into the future to tell you that.

Arthur: You must stay with me, Merlin. There is so much I need to know. I need you to advise me.

Merlin: I will stay with you as long as my destiny permits.

Arthur: I won´t ask you what that means! You and your riddles!.

5

FOURTH ACT

Narrator 2: The new reign started well. After thirteen years, Britain seemed at last to be at peace. Arthur’s court flourished and many knights came from distant lands. Musicians and poets came too, and great festivals and tournaments were held. It was a time of hope and joy.

Guinevere: Let’s watch him fight. We can see his face later.

Lancelot: Shall I fight in your name, Queen Guinevere?

Queen Guinevere: Yes, good luck!

Someone 2: Come on Gawain!

Gawain: Oh dear!, oh no!

Narrator1: One morning a soldier visits Arthur.

Arthur: What’s your name?

Soldier: The lords from the North are coming to fight you.

King Arthur: shall we do Merlin?

So

Arthur: Lancelot is the strongest man in all of England. He can be the first knight of the Round Table.

what

Merlin: Look for the best knights in the country.

Narrator 1: So the contest continued until they found their ten knights.

King Arthur: Let’s have a competition then.

first?

Someone:

Can

I

fight

Narrator2: Gawain fights many different men. Nobody can beat him.

King Arthur: Is Gawain the strongest knight in England?

Lancelot: Lancelot

Lancelot: No, I am!

Arthur: Who are you? I can´t see your face.

6

FIFTH ACT

Medieval Reporter: My newspaper has sent me again to Camelot, in the enchanted land of Avalon. Today a knighting ceremony is going to take place at Camelot Castle. The sun is shining brightly over the big buildings of Camelot. Knights and squires are coming into the castle. King Arthur is walking through the huge wooden doors. He is sitting down on his gold throne. I can hear someone in the distance shouting

Jester: Hear ye! Hear ye! Noble knights and fair ladies you are invited to a knighting ceremony. Ladies wear your best gowns and knights wear your armours.

Medieval reporter: What strange customs and traditions! In the last few days the squires have had no food. They haven’t even slept. Oh, this is going to be a really good picture! Lancelot is walking slowly towards the king.

Lady1: How brave!

Lady 2: What strength!

Lady 3: Look at him. What a good knight he will be!

Lady 1: What bravery!

Lady 2: His blonde curls will shine in the sun!

Lady 3: Look at the detail of his armour!

Lady 1: Good sword to serve his lord!

Lady 2: The four most skilled craftsmen made his armour!

Lady 3: What Grace!

Lady 1: How courteous!

Lady 2: A good sword and a trusty hand!

Narrator1:

Slowly he kneels on one knee before the king.

7

SIXTH ACT

King Arthur: In the name of God, of St Michael and of St George, I make you a knight; be valiant, courteous and loyal.

(Then he touched Gawain on each shoulder)

King Arthur: “Arise Sir Gawain.”

(Then he touched Lancelot on each shoulder)

Arthur: Remember now you are a knight and you should be courteous and never refuse mercy. You must defend right against evil. You should not fail in charity, abstinence and truth. Remember you must keep your word.

King Arthur: “Arise Sir Lancelot”.

Arthur: Remember now you are a knight and you will never do murder, you will always help ladies, damosels and gentle women. You will take no battles in a wrongful quarrel for no law for no worldly goods. You should be there for all ladies and fight for their quarrels.

You must keep your word.

Gawain: I accept these terms my king.

Narrator: Now Lancelot and Gawain are powerful knights and receive helmet, shield and spear.

Lancelot and Gawain: My Lord, we will never traffic with traitors, we will serve you and we will fight against your enemies.

Lancelot: I promise my lord. I’ll keep these terms, my king.

Medieval reporter: Now it’s Gawain’s turn.

Medieval reporter: Sir Gawain, Sir Lancelot, please, wait a minute! Can I take a picture of you two?

Arthur: In the name of God, of St Michael and of St George, I make you a knight; be valiant, courteous and loyal.

Can I ask you a few questions?

How do you feel?

Gawain: I proud and happy,…

8

am

very

Epilogue Narrator1&2 (bid farewell to the audience): So ends the story we wanted to tell you today. Of course, Arthur, Lancelot and Gawain went on to have other adventures but that is another tale for another time.

Perhaps we shall meet again someday, and I can tell you more about those long ago times. Until that time – whenever it shall be- I bid you farewell!.

Morgan: Next time things will be different for you! This kingdom shall be mine!!

9

CAST

King Arthur

Carlos Garcia Sola

Merlin

Mario Carrión Cano

Lancelot

Ramón Gómez Laguna

Sir Gawain

Antonio Rico Torres

Morgan

Maria Maestra Lozano

Narrator 1

Alba Jiménez Navas

Narrator 2 andQueenGuinevere

Aida Centeno Barrera

Soldier

Francisco Polaino Sola

Someone

Noelia Corral Hernández

Archbishop

Pilar Martínez Moya

Ladies

Angela Menendez Tudela, Maria Maestra, Alba Jimenez

Medieval Reporter

Julio Caballero Pérez

Screenplay by: Elisa Maria López Cabrera Costume and decorations: Joaquin Peña-Toro Music: Jesús Luque Oliva Filming Location: Room 38 Photography: Joaquin Peña-Toro

CAMELOT

QUIZ Who was the wizard that helped King Arthur?

qLancelot qGawain qMorgan qMerlin

Who is Guinevere?

qArthur’s Queen qArthur’s Mother qArthur’s sister

How did Arthur become king?

qHe killed the old king qHe won the games qHe pulled Excalibur out of a stone What’s the name of King Arthur’s castle?

What’s the Holy Grail?

qA horse qThe Castle of the Round Table qA sword qThe Cup of Christ