The Tragedy of King Arthur by Daniel James Roth

In this adaptation of the King Arthur mythology from "Le Morte D'Arthur", Arthur's search for justice and honor is thrown into disarray when his best friend and most loyal knight, Launcelot, has an affair with Queen Guinevere. What follows is a classic story of betrayal and love, as Camelot falls into chaos, crashing down around the man who built the kingdom. Told in verse, the play is full...
In this adaptation of the King Arthur mythology from "Le Morte D'Arthur", Arthur's search for justice and honor is thrown into disarray when his best friend and most loyal knight, Launcelot, has an affair with Queen Guinevere. What follows is a classic story of betrayal and love, as Camelot falls into chaos, crashing down around the man who built the kingdom. Told in verse, the play is full of wit, love, magic, and humor, as well as bloody battles and conspiracies. The play is written to resemble the style of Elizabethan writing, specifically Shakespeare's First Folio, not only in content and language, but also in structure and grammatical editing.
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The Tragedy of King Arthur

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Character Information

Ages and genders may be up to the discretion of the director.

Doubling options:
Morgan le Fay/Lady of the lake
Agravaine/Bedivere
Kay/King Mark
Bors/Jailer/Murderer
Tristain/Knight
Gareth/Messenger

  • Arthur
    Tries to act with justice and wisdom, noble, follows the laws.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Launcelot
    Chivalrous hero, caught between honor, duty, and love.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Guinevere
    Genuine, honest, trying to find peace.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Gawain
    Hotheaded and righteous, a bawdy joker.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Gareth
    Honest and strong, incredibly loyal, loves a good story.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Tristain
    Doesn’t take much seriously, foolish, butt of the jokes.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s, 50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Mordred
    Destined to be evil, smart, knows how to conceal his anger.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Lyonesse
    Very smart and deeply loving, unapologetic.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Bedivere
    Loyal to his king, a kind person, doesn’t glorify death.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Isolde
    An honorable lady, kind and true-hearted.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Dagonet
    Arthur’s witty fool, smarter than almost anyone but uses it for silliness.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Jailer
    Not all that smart, but takes great pride in what he does.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Mark
    Stubborn and crass, also a manipulative ruler.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Agravaine
    Not inherently bad, concerned with truth, easily manipulated.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Percival
    Rustic, uncultured, but good-hearted and pure.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Bors
    Follows Launcelot to exile, respects Launcelot, has doubts about Arthur.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Lady of the Lake
    Regal, calming, a goddess or a queen (or both).
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Kay
    Arrogant braggart, incompetent fighter, but loyal.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Morgan Le Fay
    A mysterious enchantress, dangerous.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Ensemble
    Play various knights, lords, servants, etc. Some speaking roles.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    The Lost Colony
    ,
    2019