The Madness of George III
Alan Bennett
This powerful historical drama depicts the mental decline of King George III and the resulting constitutional crisis. As the King’s behavior becomes increasingly erratic and mad, his court descends into a frenzy of political maneuvering, with the Prince of Wales seeking to seize power. The play focuses on the brutal medical treatments of the era and the King's struggle to maintain his dignity and his throne. It is a compassionate and meticulously researched study of power, family, and the fragile line between authority and infirmity, later adapted into an Oscar-winning film.
King 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.
Original Actors: Nigel Hawthorne, Janet Suzman, Julian Wadham