King's Head Theatre, London
Running time: 70 minutes
Age Restrictions: This production is recommended for ages 18+
Tickets from £12.00
When Richard Hornig, a stable master with a secret, arrives at the court of King Ludwig II, the young monarch’s most decadent obsessions are ignited—placing the future of his kingdom, his legacy, and even his sanity at the edge of a dangerous precipice.
Based on true events, THE MAD GAY KING is a queer retelling of the life and love of King Ludwig II of Bavaria, an infamous 19th century monarch who funded the operas of Richard Wagner, built a flight of fairy tale castles, and was ultimately deposed by his conservative government on the grounds of homosexual insanity.
This sweepingly romantic World Premiere, presented by An Accomplished Woman Productions and directed by Scott Le Crass (Rose, Buff), marks the UK debut of playwright Christopher Adams-Cohen. Integrating its historical sources with elements of the contemporary queer underground, this thrilling new production is a celebration of the enduring power of fantasy and mythmaking as a means of LGBTQ+ survival.
King's Head Theatre
King's Head Theatre
115 Upper St, Islington, Greater London
London
N1 1QN
The King’s Head Theatre stands on a plot of land that has been used as a public house since 1543, though for most of its history it has been known as the King’s Head Tavern (the name itself coming from an old story about Henry VIII supposedly stopping for a pint on his way to see his mistress). The current building dates back to the 1800s.
Dan Crawford took over The King's Head in 1970, and founded the King’s Head Theatre in a room that had been used as a boxing ring and pool hall, establishing the first pub theatre in London since Shakespeare’s day. Under his leadership the pub became well-known for ringing up pounds, shillings and pence until 2008, a full thirty-seven years after the rest of the UK had switched to decimal currency. Five years on, the old till still sits behind the bar. The pub is packed full of other period details, including gas lights, the original bar, old photography, and coal fires that burn continuously throughout the winter.
Crawford led The King's Head for thirty-five years, establishing it as a breeding ground for new talent and great work. The walls of the pub display the multitude of famous faces that began their career here. In 2010, Olivier Award-winning UpClose Productions became The King's Head Theatre’s resident company, and Adam Spreadbury-Maher was appointed the venue’s second Artistic Director, working alongside Robin Norton-Hale who leads the company’s opera programme. UpClose Productions produce at least eight shows a year, and curate the work of visiting companies all year round. The venue’s reputation for nurturing new talent continues, with pioneering Trainee Director scheme (winner of the Royal Anniversary Trust Award in 1992) still being run by UpClose Productions. Recent graduates have gone on to work at the National Theatre, RSC, Lyric Hammersmith and the Globe, plus many other internationally-renowned companies.
Travel by train: Nearest tube: Angel
