{"product_id":"the-james-plays","title":"The James Plays","description":"\u003c!-- Hook --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRona Munro's epic reimagining of Scottish royalty and ambition.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- Tagline --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEssential for Scottish theatre and history enthusiasts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\u003c!-- Access Your Content --\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"border: 2px solid #ddd; padding: 16px; border-radius: 6px; background: #f9f9f9; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: bold; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003eAccess Your Content in Seconds\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col style=\"margin-left: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComplete your purchase on our store.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDownload \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/thegreyhill.com\/pages\/the-grey-hill-app\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Grey Hill App\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e (free).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLog in using the same email from checkout.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour ebook will appear instantly in your library.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size: 14px; color: #555;\"\u003eAll content is securely delivered through our app and not offered as a Shopify download.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\u003c!-- About the Ebook --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout the Ebook\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRona Munro's vividly imagined historical cycle brings to life three generations of Stewart kings who ruled Scotland in the tumultuous fifteenth century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cb\u003eJames I: The Key Will Keep the Lock\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e explores the complex character of the colourful Stewart King – poet, lover and law-maker.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCaptured at the age of 13 and crowned King of Scots in an English prison, James I of Scotland is delivered home 18 years later with a ransom on his head and a new English bride. The nation he returns to is poor: the royal coffers empty and his nobles ready to tear him apart at the first sign of weakness. Determined to bring the rule of law to a land riven by warring factions, James faces terrible choices if he is to save himself, his Queen and the crown.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cem\u003eJames II: Day of the Innocents \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/b\u003edepicts a violent royal playground from the perspective of the child King and his contemporaries, in a terrifying arena of sharp teeth and long knives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJames II becomes the prize in a vicious game between Scotland's most powerful families. Crowned when only six, abandoned by his mother and separated from his sisters, the child King is little more than a puppet. There is only one friend he can trust: William, the future Earl of Douglas. As James approaches adulthood in an ever more threatening world, he must fight to keep his tenuous grip on the crown while the nightmares of his childhood rise up once more.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cb\u003eJames III: The True Mirror\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e, like the King himself, is colourful and unpredictable, turning its attention to the women at the heart of the royal court.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCharismatic, cultured, and obsessed with grandiose schemes that his nation can ill afford, James III is by turns loved and loathed. Scotland thunders dangerously close to civil war, but its future may be decided by James' resourceful and resilient wife, Queen Margaret of Denmark. Her love and clear vision can save a fragile monarchy and rescue a struggling people.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach play stands alone as a unique vision of a country tussling with its past and future; viewed together the cycle creates an intricate and compelling narrative on Scottish culture and nationhood, full of playful wit and boisterous theatricality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe James Plays \u003c\/em\u003epremiered at the Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, in August 2014 as part of the Edinburgh International Festival, before transferring to the National Theatre, London. The original three-play cycle was named Best New Play at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2014.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eReviews\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'A towering achievement... a modern classic' \u003cstrong\u003eEvening Standard\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'An astonishing dramatic achievement... Munro's script is the star... a feast of theatrical might and blistering emotion' \u003cstrong\u003eTelegraph\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'Full of topical resonance... These are unequivocally plays for today... Munro skilfully interweaves the personal and the political' \u003cstrong\u003eGuardian\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'Wit, punch and accessibility... this is theatre that mixes the personal with the political to fabulous effect. ... The scope is Shakespearean, yet Munro applies a contemporary sensibility to her medieval characters, who talk and swear in modern tongue' \u003cstrong\u003eThe Times\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'Rona Munro's three plays can stand confidently alone but, taken together, have a scale and reach that is thrilling and satisfying in equal measures' \u003cstrong\u003eIndependent\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\u003c!-- Why You'll Love This Ebook --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy You'll Love This Ebook\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMasterpiece of Scottish contemporary drama.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExploration of power, gender, and nation.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublished by Nick Hern Books, leading contemporary theatre publisher.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScottish theatrical genius at its finest.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\u003c!-- About the Author --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRona Munro is a writer who has written extensively for stage, radio, film and television.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHer plays include: \u003cem\u003eJames V: Katherine\u003c\/em\u003e (Raw Material and Capital Theatres tour, 2024); \u003cem\u003eMary\u003c\/em\u003e (Hampstead Theatre, 2022); \u003cem\u003eJames IV: Queen of the Fight\u003c\/em\u003e (National Theatre of Scotland, 2022); a stage adaptation of Mary Shelley's \u003cem\u003eFrankenstein\u003c\/em\u003e (UK tour, 2019); a stage adaptation of Louis de Bernières' novel \u003cem\u003eCaptain Corelli's Mandolin \u003c\/em\u003e(UK tour \u0026amp; West End, 2019); \u003cem\u003eScuttlers\u003c\/em\u003e (Royal Exchange, Manchester, 2015); \u003cem\u003eThe James Plays\u003c\/em\u003e trilogy (National Theatre of Scotland, the Edinburgh International Festival and the National Theatre of Great Britain, 2014); \u003cem\u003eDonny's Brain\u003c\/em\u003e (Hampstead Theatre, 2012); \u003cem\u003ePandas\u003c\/em\u003e (Traverse, 2011); \u003cem\u003eLittle Eagles\u003c\/em\u003e (Royal Shakespeare Company, 2011); \u003cem\u003eThe Last Witch\u003c\/em\u003e (Traverse Theatre \u0026amp; Edinburgh International Festival, 2009); \u003cem\u003eLong Time Dead\u003c\/em\u003e (Paines Plough \u0026amp; Drum Theatre Plymouth, 2006); \u003cem\u003eThe Indian Boy\u003c\/em\u003e (RSC, 2006); \u003cem\u003eIron\u003c\/em\u003e (Traverse Theatre, 2002; Royal Court, London, 2003); \u003cem\u003eThe Maiden Stone\u003c\/em\u003e (Hampstead Theatre, 1995); and \u003cem\u003eBold Girls\u003c\/em\u003e (7:84 and Hampstead Theatre, 1990).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShe is the co-founder, with actress Fiona Knowles, of Scotland’s oldest continuously performing, small-scale touring theatre company, The Msfits. Their one-woman shows have toured every year since 1986.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFilm and television work includes the Ken Loach film \u003cem\u003eLadybird Ladybird\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eAimee and Jaguar\u003c\/em\u003e and television dramas \u003cem\u003eRehab\u003c\/em\u003e (directed by Antonia Bird) and BAFTA-nominated \u003cem\u003eBumping the Odds\u003c\/em\u003e for the BBC. She has also written many other single plays for television and contributed to series including \u003cem\u003eCasualty\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eDr Who\u003c\/em\u003e. Most recently, she wrote the screenplay for \u003cem\u003eOranges and Sunshine\u003c\/em\u003e, directed by Jim Loach and starring Emily Watson and Hugo Weaving.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShe has contributed several radio plays to the Stanley Baxter Playhouse series on BBC Radio 4.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\u003c!-- Publication Details --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePublication Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e Nick Hern Books\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e 08 February 2016\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePrint Length:\u003c\/strong\u003e 320 pages (Ebook edition)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN (Ebook):\u003c\/strong\u003e 9781780014920\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ebook\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/strong\u003e English\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\u003c!-- FAQ --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow do I access my ebook?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDownload \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/thegreyhill.com\/pages\/the-grey-hill-app\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Grey Hill App\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e and log in using the same email you used at checkout. Your ebook will appear instantly in your library.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I read it online?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — you can also access your purchases via our online reader at \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reader.thegreyhill.com\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ereader.thegreyhill.com\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eI can't see my ebook — what should I do?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTap the refresh button in the app or online reader. If it still doesn't appear, ensure you're logged in with the same email used at checkout. If issues continue, contact us and we'll help right away.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I gift this ebook?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — you can purchase a Grey Hill Gift Card here: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/thegreyhill.com\/products\/the-grey-hill-gift-card\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBuy a Gift Card\u003c\/a\u003e. The recipient can redeem it on our store, and the ebook will appear in The Grey Hill App.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick Hern Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57092455170421,"sku":"9781780014920","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0921\/5662\/5269\/files\/9781780014920.jpg?v=1776853724","url":"https:\/\/thegreyhill.com\/products\/the-james-plays","provider":"The Grey Hill","version":"1.0","type":"link"}