Zettel's Theatre - Summer tour 2024

Wiliam Shakespeare's "John without a country"

Don't you know it ? - You do know it! King John is the brother of Richard the Lionheart and his successor. So Richard the Lionheart won't be playing next summer - he's already dead. Robin Hood is also missing - so we won't be playing in green tights either.

We've all been lucky again.

Unfortunately, King John has not been lucky. He is crowned king three times - but never really. The first time he only owns half of England, the second time France is missing and the last time he has everything, but has to give it away to his nieces and nephews. As long as they are still alive. The life and work of John is a single Shakespearean royal drama - and we are delighted to set the stage for it.

The whole of Europe gathers at the royal table - for the funeral feast, the coronation preparations, the declaration of war, the conclusion of peace, the forced marriage and the family council. Knives are sharpened, crowns are polished and lands are divided up like pieces of cake. And Queen Mum, the legendary Eleanor of Aquitaine, watches over everything until her last breath.

We hope you enjoy!

P.S. And in case you didn't know: it was Johann Wolfgang von Goethe who was the first to stage Johann ohne Land in Germany.

P.S.S. Another thing that not everyone knows is that theatre historians have disagreed for two centuries about which is the least popular of Shakespeare's royal dramas: Henry VIII or John?

We think our Henry VIII was very much in the Queen's honour, so King Charles will also enjoy us and our John. And how could we resist the temptation to celebrate Shakespeare's two least favourite plays with our loyal audience on a warm summer's night over a good glass of wine? It simply has to be done!

Honour to whom honour is due - Clear the stage for Shakespeare's John without a country !