King John of England faces challenges to his throne from France, the Pope, and his own nobles, who champion the claim of his young nephew Arthur. As political alliances shift and John orders the murder of the boy prince, the kingdom descends into crisis. The Bastard Faulconbridge, an illegitimate son of Richard the Lionheart, provides a sardonic commentary on the gap between royal power and moral legitimacy. Shakespeare's rarely performed history play is a cynical exploration of political opportunism and the corrupting nature of sovereignty.
Captured performances available to watch