King Charles left ‘laughing away’ among the public at sold-out show | Royal | News
Charles attends the Royal Shakespeare Company’s performance of The Tempest (Image: Jeff Spicer/PA)
The King delighted theatergoers when he sat down with the public to watch a sold-out performance of Shakespeare’s play.
Charles was greeted with cheers from a large crowd of people when he arrived at the Royal Shakespeare Theater in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, as a surprise guest in Sir Kenneth Branagh’s production of The Tempest.
The King was greeted on arrival by the Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire, Tim Cox, as well as the Royal Shakespeare Company’s (RSC) joint artistic directors, Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey.
Charles comes to the Royal Shakespeare Theater (Image: Jacob King/PA)
Charles sat in the backseat between Mr. Evans and Ms. Harvey as audience members looked down from seating in the dress circle inside the auditorium, while others in the booths pulled out their phones to take photos.
He also sat next to Sir Richard Eyre, who directed the RSC’s performance.
Ms Harvey said she was “laughing” around the King during the show.
He added: “I think he really enjoyed it.”
“When Guy Henry, who plays Stephano, came on stage, he reached out to me and said, ‘Is that Guy Henry?’” Mr. Evans said. he said. I was amazed at his knowledge of actors.
“You get the impression that he is a real theater enthusiast.”
The King, meanwhile, was offered a drink before meeting the RSC’s in-house costume department and admiring the tiara used in the company’s production of Edward II last year.
She also touched the fabric of the dress worn by Dame Judi Dench in the 2003 film All’s Well That Ends Well, and admired David Tennant’s suit and dress from her role in the 2013 film Richard II and the costume worn by Sir Antony Sher in the 1984 production of Richard III.
King called the costumes “wonderful.”
He received a standing ovation at the end of the show.
Charles is the late Queen Elizabeth II, who has held patronage of the company since its founding in 1961. Following in Elizabeth’s footsteps, she has become a patron of the RSC since 2024.
The king surprised the audience when he took his seat in the theater (Image: Jeff Spicer/PA)
Sir Kenneth plays the role of Prospero, the exiled Duke of Milan, for the first time in a career that has included 35 Shakespeare productions.
The Tempest, one of the last plays written by Shakespeare, is in theaters until June 20.
Mr Evans and Ms Harvey said in a statement: “It was a great honor to welcome His Majesty the King back to the Royal Shakespeare Theater for this landmark production of The Tempest, which marks both Sir Kenneth Branagh’s historic return to Stratford-upon-Avon for the first time in over 30 years and Sir Richard Eyre’s company debut after a long and distinguished career directing on the British stage.”
