King Charles has long been a fan of the theater, and he recently showed it with a surprise appearance at a production of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” on May 22.
The monarch also visited the backstage area after the performance, where he interacted with the cast and crew and took a closer look at some of the production’s props.
His appearance was celebrated by the showrunners, who called it a “tremendous honor” to have had him in the audience.
King Charles Arrives To Cheers At Shakespeare Play
King Charles paid a surprise visit to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon last weekend, where a production of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” was being staged for him.
Keeping with theater tradition, the King, who was dressed in a blue striped suit and a light-colored tie, arrived before the curtain went up.
He was greeted by the Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire, Tim Cox, alongside the theater’s showrunners, Royal Shakespeare Company co-artistic directors Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey.
His arrival was met with cheers from the waiting crowd, who had not expected to see the British royal at the gathering.
Charles then went inside to take his seat with the audience, flanked on either side by the co-artistic directors, as seen in pictures published by the Daily Mail.
Charles Reportedly Goes Backstage After Shakespeare Play
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At the conclusion of the play, Charles joined the audience in giving the performers a standing ovation before reportedly being led backstage.
There, he congratulated the cast and crew on their hard work, taking time to shake hands with everyone, which reportedly brought smiles to their faces.
The monarch also spent time backstage examining some of the pieces used for the performance. They included a replica crown, fabric from a dress worn by Dame Judi Dench in a 2003 production of “All’s Well That Ends Well,” and a costume worn by Sir Antony Sher in a 1984 production of “Richard III.”
According to the BBC and ITV News, the King was impressed by the pieces and described them as “brilliant.”
King Charles’ Theater Knowledge Impresses Director
Charles did not speak to the press about the performance, but Harvey, who sat beside the King, offered her impression of what the monarch thought of the show.
“I think he genuinely enjoyed it,” she told the BBC, adding that the King was “laughing away” during the performance.
Harvey also praised Charles’ knowledge of the production and cited a moment when he demonstrated his understanding.
“When Guy Henry came on, who plays Stephano, he reached over to me and said, ‘Is that Guy Henry?’” she stated. “I was just astonished at his knowledge of actors. You get the impression he’s a true enthusiast of the theater.”
Royal Shakespeare Company Celebrates King’s Visit
Harvey, alongside her co-artistic director, also released a statement thanking the King for attending the production.
“It was a tremendous honor to welcome His Majesty the King back to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre for this landmark production of ‘The Tempest,’” they said.
The duo also commended the monarch for making time to speak with the cast and crew, despite how physically demanding the engagement may have been for him.
“A Shakespearean through and through, it was particularly special to hear His Majesty thank the ‘unsung’ heroes on and off-stage, from our specialist production and technical staff to our dedicated Box Office and Front of House teams,” the co-artistic directors added.
King Charles Shows Off His Musical Side In Ireland
The theater appearance comes days after the King visited Ireland and took time to engage with traditional Irish musicians at Belfast’s Thompson Dock.
The monarch, who made the visit with his wife, Queen Camilla, joined the musicians for a brief session in which they played the bodhrán.
“We happened to have a couple [of bodhráns] sitting on the seat, and the King and Queen realized they were there, and they decided to join in with us at the end. It was wonderful,” Irish music specialist Niall McClean revealed, per News 24.
Charles is said to have expressed enthusiasm for the instrument, a traditional Irish drum, as well as the uilleann pipes, a wind instrument native to Ireland.