The Lion in Winter at Austin Playhouse

King Henry II has imprisoned his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine and taken a nubile French mistress. All hell breaks loose when Eleanor is temporarily freed for the holidays their three sons vie to inherit the throne. The Lion in Winter tells the story of Henry II; the great-grandson of William the Conqueror and the first King of England, his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, and their sons Richard, John, and Geoffrey, in their battles for the crown of England.

It’s Christmas, 1183. Henry wants John to be king, and Eleanor wants Richard. The fate of France hangs in the balance under its new king, Philip, who must make an alliance by the marriage of his sister, Alais; who is desperately in love with Henry. While ambition and war provide a backdrop to the drama, at its heart, The Lion in Winter is the compelling story of scheming, feuding, backstabbing, and political wrangling among family members of one fascinating medieval monarchy.

Performances at Mueller Temporary Facility, 1800 1/2 Simond Avenue, Austin, Texas 78722.

Authors

• James Goldman