King John: A Solo Performance
Island Shakespeare Festival, WA, 98260
Friday, August 14 2026 - Monday, August 17 2026
Shakespeare’s bold, strikingly modern King John is one of his sharpest critiques of unconstrained power and its abuses—an unflinching portrait of the bloody price that a whole society must pay for the political ambitions of a reckless few. Yet even within his jagged narrative, Shakespeare finds poignancy, humanity, heartbreak and humor shimmering through a darkly cynical vision that feels startlingly, urgently familiar.
It is timely that The Giddy Round should bring its King John to ISF this summer with Robin Hood of Sherwood Forest on its stage. Robin Hood's Prince John went on to become king, and Shakespeare dramatized his reign in his play.
This swift and lean solo adaptation is an international collaboration between Macedonian director Damjan Dimovski and U.S.-based actor/adapter Matthew Windham.
The production is about 55 minutes long.
***Matinee performances are held in full daylight, with limited shade. Sun and shade conditions shift throughout the performance and season, and seat labels reflect general conditions but may vary. Some seats may have slight sightline interruptions due to sunshade equipment. We recommend bringing sun protection and water for your comfort.***
The Giddy Round produces innovative re-envisioned Shakespeare plays for touring and cultural exchange. Our inaugural production, a monodrama adaptation of Richard II titled This Little World, toured festivals in the US and Europe from 2021-24, earning awards and accolades for the creative team. We are currently re-developing it as a nimble, caustic, darkly funny two-person show, which will be touring in late 2026 and beyond. Simply Silly Shakespeare, touring the Southwestern U.S. continuously since 2023, was created by Giddy Round artists and produced by Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival and as a guest performance at Arizona Broadway Theatre. It is a quick-witted, music-filled, audience-participatory journey through Shakespeare’s First Folio, and a love-letter to books and language. Other projects include workshops and readings of The Haunting of Richard III—supported by a grant from the AZ Commission on the Arts—and The Parasite Play and Tongue & Cheek: The Science of Flavor, which premiered at the Flagstaff Festival of Science in 2024 and 2025 and toured to schools and university classrooms.
It is timely that The Giddy Round should bring its King John to ISF this summer with Robin Hood of Sherwood Forest on its stage. Robin Hood's Prince John went on to become king, and Shakespeare dramatized his reign in his play.
This swift and lean solo adaptation is an international collaboration between Macedonian director Damjan Dimovski and U.S.-based actor/adapter Matthew Windham.
The production is about 55 minutes long.
***Matinee performances are held in full daylight, with limited shade. Sun and shade conditions shift throughout the performance and season, and seat labels reflect general conditions but may vary. Some seats may have slight sightline interruptions due to sunshade equipment. We recommend bringing sun protection and water for your comfort.***
The Giddy Round produces innovative re-envisioned Shakespeare plays for touring and cultural exchange. Our inaugural production, a monodrama adaptation of Richard II titled This Little World, toured festivals in the US and Europe from 2021-24, earning awards and accolades for the creative team. We are currently re-developing it as a nimble, caustic, darkly funny two-person show, which will be touring in late 2026 and beyond. Simply Silly Shakespeare, touring the Southwestern U.S. continuously since 2023, was created by Giddy Round artists and produced by Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival and as a guest performance at Arizona Broadway Theatre. It is a quick-witted, music-filled, audience-participatory journey through Shakespeare’s First Folio, and a love-letter to books and language. Other projects include workshops and readings of The Haunting of Richard III—supported by a grant from the AZ Commission on the Arts—and The Parasite Play and Tongue & Cheek: The Science of Flavor, which premiered at the Flagstaff Festival of Science in 2024 and 2025 and toured to schools and university classrooms.
