King Charles III made a surprise appearance at a sold-out performance of Shakespeare's The Tempest at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, according to multiple reports. The King was met with cheers from the crowd as he arrived and took his seat near the back of the theatre, between co-artistic directors Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey.
Key Takeaways
King Charles III made a surprise appearance at a sold-out performance of Shakespeare's The Tempest at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. He was seen laughing and enjoying the play, which stars Sir Kenneth Branagh as Prospero.
- King Charles attended a production of The Tempest unannounced
- He sat near co-artistic directors Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey
- The King toured the RSC's costume department during the interval
- King Charles has been the patron of the RSC since 2024
- The production runs until June 20.
During the performance, Ms. Harvey noted that the King was 'laughing away' and seemed to genuinely enjoy the play. He also gave a standing ovation at the end of the production. The Tempest stars Sir Kenneth Branagh as Prospero, marking his return to Stratford-upon-Avon for the first time in over 30 years.
According to Daily Mail, King Charles toured the Royal Shakespeare Company's (RSC) costume department during the interval. He admired a crown used in their production of Edward II, touched the fabric of a dress worn by Dame Judi Dench, and marveled at costumes from David Tennant and Sir Antony Sher's performances. The King described the costumes as 'brilliant'.
The RSC's co-artistic directors Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey called the visit from the King 'a tremendous honour'. According to BBC, after the performance, the King greeted the cast backstage and was seen chatting with Sir Kenneth Branagh and director Sir Richard Eyre. The production of The Tempest is directed by Sir Richard Eyre and runs until June 20.
King Charles has been the patron of the RSC since 2024, following in the footsteps of the late Queen Elizabeth II who held the patronage since the company's creation in 1961. According to Sky News, King Charles showcased his enthusiasm for theatre and his knowledge of actors during the performance.
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