The Madness of George III
Alan Bennett
Main CharactersKing George III: A dedicated, albeit idiosyncratic, monarch whose sudden descent into apparent madness triggers a brutal medical intervention and a desperate struggle for his political survival. Queen Charlotte: The King’s devoted and resilient wife, who must navigate the treacherous waters of the court to protect her husband’s crown and his personal dignity. Dr. Willis: A stern, unconventional physician who treats the King’s madness through a regimen of physical restraint and psychological breaking, aiming to restore the monarch’s self-control.
First Performance: 1991, at Lyttelton Theatre (National Theatre), London
Critical and commercial triumph; praised for its historical accuracy and the central tour-de-force performance by Nigel Hawthorne.