The Madness of George III

Time Out“A fascinating albeit thoroughly conservative corridor of history...” Luscombe's Theatre Royal Bath production of 'The Madness of George III' is middle aged, middle of the road, and sometimes mediocre. But it is, nonetheless, a very great pleasure. Its tireless ease comes from Bennett's affectionate script...

The Independent“Handsomely staged...” This is an intriguing royal portrait: comical, tragical, political, somatic and psychological. A gaggle of grandiose quacks exacerbate his torments with purging and blistering...

The Observer“Lucid, elegant and well-defined...” David Haig's performance as the mad king is so phenomenal that it is impossible to take one's eyes off him. He has emphatic charm (he does niceness with more zest than any actor alive) and his ability to turn lunatic is remarkable...

Guardian“Awfully good stuff...” There are times when the evening feels a little schematic, and the dialogue forced, but this is intelligent, witty and moving West End fare with a big, compassionate heart...

Financial Times“Beautifully pitched revival...” At the heart of it all is Haig’s exceptional, humane performance as the monarch. He makes the part his own: full of brisk, beaming energy at the outset, he draws that energy into increasing mania as his illness upends his behaviour...

The Arts Desk“Something of a royal progress...” Haig is the anchor that grounds the play in something more than one-liners and digested historical narrative; as weighty performances go his is as fine a one as currently on display in London’s theatres...

The Stage“It is a beautifully affecting, intimate and human performance...” It also serves to remind us that the key to happiness so very often lies in the simple, unregal things in life, like who you cuddle up with at night. Even if you are the King of England...

this is london“Swift-flowing production boasts some strong supporting turns...” Haig seizes upon this once-in-a-lifetime gift of a part from Alan Bennett and makes it his own. This cherishable actor, whose wonderful manner is warm and lugubrious by turn, is going to re-mint the role for a new generation of theatre-goers...

Whatsonstage.com“Christopher Luscombe’s brisk and well-cast production...” It’s an enormously clever play, I now see, without being a very compelling one. But it’s a more than decent addition to the West End list, and we should be so lucky to have Alan Bennett still writing for the theatre...

The Telegraph“If you have tears, prepare to shed them now...” Christopher Luscombe’s elegant, lucid, and deeply felt production grips throughout and Haig is simply magnificent, both in his madness and his deeply moving recovery...