NT : What's On : Productions : Battle Royal
Battle Royal
a new play by Nick Stafford (1999)
1795: England is at war with France, women are seen but not heard, and the Prince Regent, a man with 'an undeserved reputation for enjoying the amusements of his position whilst not embracing the duties', is under pressure to marry and produce an heir.
Eighteen years later: the influence of the French revolution is being felt throughout the world, the tempestuous marriage of George IV and the woman he reluctantly married has reached crisis point and, in an ironic twist, Caroline his outspoken wife, has become a figurehead for the anti-monarchists.
Nick Stafford's witty new play charts a fascinating chapter in the history of the British monarchy - full of scandals, press intrusion, illicit affairs, overspending and political meddling.
Simon Russell Beale (George IV) has received widespread acclaim in the NT Ensemble productions of Candide, Money and Summerfolk.
Zoë Wanamaker plays Caroline. Her recent work includes an Olivier-award winning performance in Electra (Donmar and Broadway), The Glass Menagerie (Donmar) and Love Hurts (BBC1).
Director Howard Davies' recent productions include Chips With Everything and Flight at the National, The Iceman Cometh (Almeida, Old Vic and Broadway) and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf (Almeida and West End).
Running Time: 3 hours 25 minutes
Lyttelton Theatre
photo by Catherine Ashmore
Cast credits:
: Adrian Penketh
: Benny Young
: Brendan Coyle
: Caroline Harker
: Colin Haigh
: Duncan Duff
: Gemma Jones
: Hugh Ross
: Iain Mitchell
: Janet Spencer-Turner
: Jay Simpson
: Martin Chamberlain
: Matthew MacFadyen
: Michael Mueller
: Patrick Baladi
: Patrick Godfrey
: Patrick Marlowe
: Simon Russell Beale
: Suzanne Burden
: Valerie Spelman
: William Osborne
: Yvonne O'Grady
: Zoë Wanamaker
Production credits:
Director: Howard Davies
Designer: Rob Howell
Lighting
Designer: Mark Henderson
Music: Paddy Cunneen
Director of
Movement: Jane Gibson
Sound Designer: Adam Rudd
Battle Royal finished on: 8 April 2000
