London Apollo Theatre - The Madness of George III

David Haig gives the performance of his life as King George III in the West End premiere of Alan Bennett's smash-hit comedy The Madness Of George III.

Originally premiering at the National Theatre in 1991, the play went on to become an international theatrical sensation and was made into an award-winning film. Rarely performed because of its huge cast, this new production took the public and critics by storm when it opened at the Theatre Royal Bath in August 2011 and now transfers to the Apollo Theatre for a strictly limited eleven week season.

In spite of a catalogue of accomplishments - he founded the Royal Academy of Arts, was a passionate advocate of science, literature and music and fathered fifteen children - George III is best remembered today for his bouts of unbridled lunacy. Subjected to the appallingly cruel medical treatment of the day and assailed by power struggles between politicians and his scheming son, George remains throughout an intensely sympathetic character - melancholy, moving, witty...and finally triumphant.

This epic production features a stellar cast alongside David Haig including Clive Francis, Beatie Edney and Madhav Sharma.

The Madness of George III is a 1991 play by Alan Bennett. It is a fictionalised biographical study of the latter half of the reign of George III of the United Kingdom, his struggle with mental illness and the inability of his court to handle his condition. It was adapted for film in 1994 as The Madness of King George.

The play had its premiere on 28 November 1991 at the Lyttelton Theatre of the National Theatre in London. It was directed by Nicholas Hytner and designed by Mark Thompson. The play starred Nigel Hawthorne as George III, Janet Dale as Queen Charlotte and Michael Fitzgerald as the Prince of Wales, also starring Julian Wadham, Charles Kay, Adrian Scarborough, Mark Lockyer and David Henry.

After its London run, the production toured the UK and the USA, returned to the National Theatre in 1993 and was then presented in Athens and Israel in 1994.

The play was staged at the Lowell Davies Festival Theatre in San Diego, CA June 19 - September 24, 2010.

Apollo Theatre London

The Madness of George III