James IV: Queen of the Fight

I found the original trilogy to be self contained

Travelled to Glasgow to see J4 last night. Happy to report that it keeps up the quality whilst taking another angle on the history which helps to keep the series of plays fresh.

Fears that this might be an attempt to bring modern identity politics clunkily into a historical play prove unfounded as this is another rich, diverse play with many different strands - yes, about the place of migrants in the Scottish court of James IV, but also the role of a king, the place for arts in government, all rolled into a fast-moving play with spectacular language and hefty chunks of swordplay.

Daniel Cahill takes on the mantle on James IV again, as he did at the end of the original trilogy. Danielle Jam and Laura Lovemore as migrants from Spain drive the plot and effectively demonstrate what it can be like to be an outsider. Very interesting essays in the programme about how much is inspired by what we know on James IV's court.

I came up here to see it because I didn't want to miss it; I'm sorry to say I'm not sure it will make it south of the border - Rosa Munro talks in the programme about the "long, long frustrating years" trying to get J4 into production - "I felt I was crawling round producers in an increasingly desperate and bedraggled state, begging for opportunity." And, sadly, when that opportunity arose, the public seems to have shrugged their shoulders - last night's performance in Glasgow was I would say less than 40% sold. Maybe that was because of the Rangers rout at Ibrox the same night, but I'm not sure there is a big crossover.

It's interesting that "Mary" is being presented in London first, as a "companion piece" and out of sequence. Munro says she has the script of James V done and "hopes...it might find life very soon". She also knows how she wants to end to cycle with James VI. I very much hope she gets the chance to do so.

Sadly it's still going to be out of order as 'Mary' needs to come after James V...

I don't travel far from London to see plays normally, usually just Stratford-upon-Avon, but I made an exception for James IV as I absolutely loved the original trilogy.

The afternoon matinee I saw in Stirling was not sold out, perhaps three quarters full, though around six rows at the back were not on sale to begin with.

I thought this was every bit the equal of the first three James plays and well worth seeing. I have my doubts about whether it will make it south, but I hope it does as it deserves a wider audience.