The James Plays: Preview

A true piece of event theatre is on the way to Norwich as part of Norfolk and Norwich Festival 2016. The James Plays will bring to life the story of three generations of Scottish kings in a production which promises to be truly epic. It boasts nudity, swears, violence, strobe lighting and the chance for audience members to sit onstage and be truly part of the action. You'll see three separate plays in one day, one at 11am, one at 3pm and one at 7.30, so by the end of the day you will be fully James'd up.

Check out this amazing video https://vimeo.com/133326949. This is gonna be one of those events people talk about for years to come, so don't miss out on being there!

It sold out a run at the Edinburgh Festival and the National Theatre in London, and the drama is now heading to Norwich Theatre Royal on May 14th-15th. Boasting a strong cast, a stunning set and packed with drama, it promises to be one of the must-see shows of 2016. One of the cast John Stahl, known for starring in Game of Thrones, told us what it's like starring in an epic of a different kind.

Tell us a bit more about who you play.

Well, the play about James I follows his story. He was taken prisoner by the English at a very young age. He ended up being sent to England and was essentially a prisoner of Henry V. Later, when the more benevolent Henry VI took to the throne, things changed. My character in the first play is the Regent who basically ran Scotland. He decided it would be better for the country to have a king. Henry VI was more than happy to send him back and James I is desperate to be king.

Is this quite a well-known story in Scotland and will it enlighten us here in Norfolk?

 I don’t think it is as well known in Scotland as people think. I am a Scot and I knew a little bit about the three kings but not a lot. The exciting thing is that you follow three different kings who act in three completely different ways. By a complete fluke, they were first performed at the time of the Scottish referendum and it was interesting they were first seen at a time when Scotland’s history could change a lot.

We are quite a way from Scotland here in Norfolk. Will we be able to identify with it?

Absolutely. I did a play at the Royal Shakespeare Company called A Soldier In Every Son which was set at the time of the Aztecs. Nobody knew much about the Aztecs. It was an exciting play because it did not really matter what country it was set in. The issues and conflicts are the same. I can understand people thinking The James Plays is not for them but it will remind you that political machinations have been going on for centuries. It is not just Jeremy Corbyn trying to assert control or the Tories trying to neutralise the Opposition. This has been going on for centuries.

One of the cool things about The James Plays is that people have been able to snap up seats on stage right in the thick of the action. What is that like for you as an actor?

Ha! I am one of the few cast who is used to it. I am coming to The James Plays from a production at the Bristol Old Vic theatre. There were about 80 people sitting on stage in that. I wasn’t sure if it was a good thing but I was wrong. It worked like an absolute treat. It is so exciting for the audience to be that close to the action, and this will be the same.

You must be excited to be working with such a range of different actors.