A youth named Arthur emerges as a claimant to the English throne, challenging an already dubious royal establishment. Is this the story of Excalibur and the Round Table? No, it's Shakespeare's King John, a power-struggle narrative set centuries later than the Arthurian legends. But its action is every bit as stirring and its themes are equally resonant, as several young acting students discover while rehearsing and performing Scene 2 from Act V. Shakespeare may not have meant it as a commentary on the futility of warfare, but a post-performance discussion does touch on that possibility.

Encoded with permission for digital streaming by Infobase on March 03, 2011. Learn360 is distributed by Infobase for Films for the Humanities & Sciences, Cambridge Educational, Meridian Education, and Shopware.

Shakespeare's Globe, London: Introduction to Shakespeare (1:00) -- "King John": Discussion and Summary (5:03) -- "King John": Rehearsal, Act V, Scene 2 (1:50) -- "King John": Performance, Act V, Scene 2 (5:02) -- Discussion of Scene from "King John" (1:05) -- Credits: "King John": Young Actors in Training (0:58).