The James plays are a new cycle of history plays written by Rona Munro to be seen at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre in August and then at the National Theatre, London from September.
Comprising James I: The Key Will Keep The Lock, James II: Day of the Innocents and James III: The True Mirror, the three pieces will be played by an ensemble cast of twenty that includes Cameron Barnes, Daniel Cahill, Blythe Duff, Sofie Gråbøl, Sarah Higgins, James McArdle, Rona Morison, Mark Rowley and Fiona Wood.
Laurie Sansom, artistic director of the National Theatre of Scotland, will direct. He said, “When I first read Rona Munro’s trilogy of plays about James I, II and III of Scotland, I realised that not only were they a rare gift to an incoming Artistic Director, they were also something extraordinary to offer to audiences during a year when Scotland’s history and future are under the spotlight.
"The three plays are daring, passionate and offer a tumultuous ride through Scottish 15th century history. I look forward to bringing Rona's vividly evoked backstage dramas of Scotland's medieval royalty to a contemporary audience in a remarkable year for Scotland and friends.
"They are a hugely ambitious undertaking for the National Theatre of Scotland and would not have been possible to bring to the stage without the support and partnership from the Edinburgh International Festival, the National Theatre of Great Britain as well as the financial support of the Scottish Government's Expo Fund”
Writer Rona Munro's credits include Donny’s Brain at Hampstead Downstairs, The Astronaut’s Chair for the Drum Theatre Plymouth, Little Eagles for the Royal Shakespeare Company and a contemporary adaptation of The House Of Bernarda Alba for the National Theatre of Scotland. Amongst her television writing credits are the BAFTA nominated Bumping The Odds and Reha.
Munro has based the plays on historical record though some events and characters have been invented, altered or simplified to clarify the narrative.
James I: The Key Will Keep The Lock, James II: Day of the Innocents and James III: The True Mirror are a co-production by the National Theatre of Scotland, Edinburgh International Festival and the National Theatre of Great Britain.
For further information and booking visit see National Theatre of Scotland, Edinburgh International Festival or National Theatre of Great Britain.
Tickets for the run at the Edinburgh International Festival will go public on sale on 29 March; booking dates for the National Theatre of Great Britain are to be announced.