King John Lives Again, on Stage

Worcester Cathedral was awarded funding from the Magna Carta 800^th Anniversary Commemoration Committee for Magna Carta and King John Play for Schools. The £12,500 funding is part of the Round Two awards of the UK Government’s Grant to support work of the Magna Carta Trust.

The Magna Carta Play, “A tale of Bolshie Barons, a Crafty King and a Timeworn Tomb in Wooded Worcester”, gave a historical account of Magna Carta and King John and their impact and relevance today.  The play was set in the national context of 13^thCentury England and also the local context of Worcestershire where King John is buried in Worcester Cathedral.

The play was toured to 50 primary and middle schools in Worcestershire and the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, aimed at children aged 9 – 12yrs old, during April and May 2015. Some of the plays were also performed in Worcester Cathedral, in the Quire beside King John’s tomb. The play was offered to schools free of charge, thanks to the grant received from The Magna Carta 800^th Anniversary Commemoration Committee. Schools attending the Cathedral to see the play took part in interpretative activities developing the themes of Liberty, Human Rights and Citizenship emanating from the influence of Magna Carta.  These were organised by the Cathedral’s Education officer Sue Adeney.

Thanks to this funding, Chris Jaeger, Chief Executive of Worcester Live, was commissioned by Worcester Cathedral to write and direct the plays, working with actors from Worcester Repertory. For Chris this was the third play of its kind that he has written for this age group. The actors were also experienced in delivering this type of play, with engaging performances that inspired young people.

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See the Cathedral website for more information about Magna Carta and King John events – www.worcestercathedral.co.uk

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Alice Richmond

Deputy Chairman, Magna Carta 800th Committee

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