Actress Kate Wisniewski dressed in a suit sitting in a leather chair.
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King John

August 17 – October 29, 2022 Angus Bowmer Theatre

“Mad world, mad kings, mad composition!” A corrupt monarch faces an unruly court and fights to hold onto the crown at all costs through political intrigue and warmongering. Under Rosa Joshi’s muscular and visionary direction, King John features a cast of female and non-gender-binary performers—speaking directly to our current fractured political moment and bringing new meaning to Shakespeare’s powerful play about power itself.

King John

By William Shakespeare

Directed by Rosa Joshi

Produced in association with upstart crow collective

August 17 - October 29
Opening day: August 28
Angus Bowmer Theatre

 

(Approximate running time: 2 hours, 20 minutes, with one intermission.)


Theatre on Film
Watch King John in a special Theatre on Film watch party! Featuring visually stunning cinematography, each Theatre on Film watch party is a shared experience where you'll gather online and engage with artists and others from our global community. Each watch party is an online event hosted live by an artist from the production.

Dates:
Saturday, October 22, 2022,
2pm PT / 5pm ET
Wednesday, October 26, 2022,
8pm PT / 11pm ET

Immerse

Rosa Joshi
Director’s Notes

I’m rather obsessed with Shakespeare’s political war (aka history) plays. At the heart of these works for me is an essential question: what constitutes moral leadership and what happens to a nation state in the absence of strong moral leadership? I’m excited to be coming back to this play which was the first show that upstart crow collective ever produced back in 2006. More than fifteen years later, the play still fascinates me. What makes King John resonate particularly for me in our current historical moment, is the cynical political landscape in which it lives. The play is set in a treacherous and duplicitous world: where political and religious leaders claim the moral high ground and adopt a patriotic zeal in order to disguise their own self-interest and ambition. That all seems very resonant of contemporary American politics.

I love how the play is part biting political thriller and part juicy family drama. It’s filled with twists and turns, shifting allegiances, scheming politicians and also sibling rivalries, domineering parents and bickering in-laws. It can be caustically funny and then quite poignantly heartbreaking. It also features some of Shakespeare’s most iconic characters: Constance, Phillip the Bastard, Queen Eleanor. I’m, as always, thrilled to see a cast of powerful women and non-binary folks take the stage with confidence, dynamism, and skill as we show the world that we can be Bastards too.

—Rosa Joshi

Cast

* Member of Actors' Equity Association (AEA)
** AEA Professional Theatre Intern

Creative Team

* Member of Actors' Equity Association (AEA)
** AEA Professional Theatre Intern

Understudies

* Member of Actors' Equity Association (AEA)
** AEA Professional Theatre Intern

Memorable Lines from the Play

“Mad world, mad kings, mad composition!”

“How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds
Makes deeds ill done!”

“Well, whiles I am a beggar, I will rail
And say there is no sin but to be rich;
And being rich, my virtue then shall be
To say there is no vice but beggary.
Since kings break faith upon commodity,
Gain, be my lord, for I will worship thee.”
Suitability Suggestions

King John contains disturbing verbal imagery regarding the possible torture of a young prince. Fascinating and complex, this extremely accessible script is appropriate for middle and high school students with some background on the history involved.

For additional content warnings regarding violence or graphic depictions that may be upsetting to some audience members, please see our Content Warnings page (may contain spoilers).

Accessibility

The Angus Bowmer Theatre is outfitted with an elevator that takes patrons to either Row E or Row K.

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is committed to accessibility. We recognize the needs of persons with disabilities and strive to make our facilities and productions accessible to all. We are presently planning our Access/Accessibility programs for 2022; please watch our Accessibility page for details as they develop.

Our 2022 Season