The wandering Bard sets the stage: a realm in mourning, a court in turmoil, and a legend taking shape. Through the Bard’s voice, we meet the key figures and the first whispers of a power rising. The Bard Of Nottingham comes to your town to sing you songs of heroes, living and dead. Of great tales of rebellion, war, triumph and tragedy. The Bard comes to tell the tale of the 'Rise of The Red King', a ruthless ruler who dominates his Crimson Kingdom and his enemies only to fall victim to his own greed, desires and fears. The Bard Of Nottingham sets the stage for the drama about to play out in 'Rise Of The Red King'...

The line of succession must continue. While the former King has passed his son, young Prince Henry, will soon take his place, eager to make a name for himself and to both honor and outdo his beloved but ruthless father.The King has died - long live the King!

'The Red King rises, the Red King reigns...' but will it be a reign of peace or devastation? We meet the Red King, King Henry, and see how he interacts with his Court, the nobles and with his own conscience. He appears loving and merciful but underneath there lies a darkness, a glare, the glint of greed in his eye. He learned from his father, the former King, that being ruthless, driven, relentless and ever-vigilant was the way to rule a kingdom. But did he also learn the lesson of a people burdened by war and depleted of loyalty? King Henry is not beloved - he is feared. But for how long? Surely not forever...

In this soft acoustic ballad we hear from King Henry's mother, the Queen Mother and wife of the previous King, Henry's father. She has noticed how this new King, her son, has changed since taking the throne. She sees how he has drifted from the values, goals and promises she taught him when he sat upon her knee. She loves her son still, but she is saddened by his ruthless nature, his disregard for decency and mercy, and how gold and greed rule his thoughts. Her beloved son, what has he become?

The Red King is not so foolish as to think he can commit war on a whim. He knows the people would revolt and he would lose support in the Court. So, like all conscientious rulers, he seeks permission from the Church. The Bishop's Curse tells the tale of a Bishop caught between his faith (and doing what's right) and his life and position in the Court. The King obviously wants the Bishop to absolve him from the consequences of war, to grant holy approval on his actions. It's a no-win situation so the Bishop does his best to satisfy both sides of the moral dilemma. In the end it is the Bishop who must bear the weight of his advice to the King, along with many innocent souls...

King Henry has gotten the go ahead from the Bishop and the Church but this is mostly useful for public relations. What the Red King really needs is an ally who can perform magic, and protect the castle and crown from attack. This means only one person in his realm - the Wizard. He lives in a tower at the edge of the forest but comes to the Court to give council. The Wizard knows the fate of many and can use his crystals and magic spells to protect those he deems worthy. After counciling the King about the dangers of greed, avarice and delusion, he nevertheless pledges his allegiance and fealty to the King, promising to be there when he is needed most...

The Red War has begun and in the most brutal of ways. The Red King sends his eldest son, the Prince, into battle for him, making the young Prince think he is honoring the realm. But in truth he is a stand-in for Henry. The Red King knows his armies are not yet prepared for war so instead of risking his own life he sacrifices the life of the Prince. Did the Prince also know of King Henry's relentless greed and threaten to expose him to the Court? Did the Prince, while young (16 at most), have eyes on the throne himself? The Red King's lust for power and paranoia override his conscience, consoling himself that the Prince's blood is the cost of war...

The Crimson Queen has lost her son, the Prince, in battle. She learns of the news and is devastated, grief-stricken and conflicted. In her heart she knows her husband, the Red King, had something to do with her son's death. He was too young to ride into battle! But she also knows this means all-out war and during times like this the realm requires her loyalty and fealty to the kingdom. She must show a united front along with her husband even if her heart is broken and she no longer trusts her once honorable mate, the Red King. She loved this man until this very day, but now? Behold the strength of the crying Queen...

The Red King rises from his throne to call upon his armies, his knights and archers, to war. He asks for loyalty, fealty and their blood as the realm goes to war. These are the swords of war! His wife, the Queen, while still grieving for the loss of their eldest son the Prince, stands alongside her King. Together they call for unity, honor, chivalry, loyalty and swords. Sung by both Geoffrey and Ludze, 'Swords of War' is a powerful, epic call-to-arms, anthemic and powerful and the centerpiece of the Red War.

The Castle made of ancient stone, protected by a Wizard's spell, an invincible fortress...home to the Red King and his Court. The center of his kingdom and the natural target of any invader. In fact, invading armies ride forth, surrounding the castle preparing to lay seige. But where is the Red King? He sits comfortably on his throne, counting his gold, safe in the knowledge that the Wizard is protecting the castle, not just from armies but from dragon fire...

'Dragons dance...across the sky...' The Red War has awakened dragons sleeping deep in hidden lairs and mountain caves. The thunder of thousands of men marching to war awakens them, for they know now is the time to swoop down and gather the gold. Dragons attack while mortal men play their death games on the battlefield, devastating everything in their wake - except for a mysteriously magical castle that refuses to burn. In fact, the dragons stay away from the Red King's castle and instead focus on wiping out the armies on the battlefield. This includes many of the Red King's own knights but again, that is the cost of war according to King Henry.

King Henry, the 'Red King', stands alone on the battlefield in the aftermath of his Red War. He finally sees the devastation, destruction and damnation his decisions have brought to his realm. Only now, at the end of all things, does he realize what he has done, and what he has become. Sung by Eva in the guise of the Queen Mother from 'Her Majesty's Blues, Pt. 1', this song could easily have been sung by Ludze, the 'Crying Queen'. For it is here, in this song, that their grief meshes and forever intertwines. King Henry lives but is now dead inside; their young Prince sleeps beneath the ground. A sad and haunting song of realization and regret.

We finally get to hear from King Henry's perspective. Now, at the end of all things, we glimpse his true heart, now filled with regret and wanting absoluton and forgiveness. Not from the Church, the Court or even God himself. But rather, he speaks to his mother, Her Majesty, trying to explain and rationalize his actions. Once again he is the little boy sitting upon her knee, asking for forgiveness and pledging his love...

The people of King Henry's Crimson Kingdom have reached their breaking point. In the aftermath of the Red War, where so much blood was shed including the beloved young Prince's, the common folk refuse to follow King Henry any longer. Sung by Ludze, the 'Crying Queen', signifying her behind-the-scenes role in causing the people to rise up, to revolt. She cannot openly defy her King but she can sow the seeds of dissent, convincing the kingdom the King is weak and burdend by guilt so therefore must be deposed! It's the Prince's turn - the Prince she carries in her womb, Henry's second son. But she doesn't want this Prince to suffer the same fate as her first-born child. So she secretly whispers the calls for revolt, shielding herself from accountability. After all, she will need to reign until her son is old enough to take over, and she vows to herself to be a benevolent and merciful ruler....

The King has passed away - long live the new King! We end our tale where it began, with the natural cycle of royalty. One King dies, a new King rises to take his place. But this time it is a young, unborn Prince, and a Queen who will take the throne to guide the kingdom until her Prince is ready...

A song of hope and peace, 'No Battles, Nevermore' concludes our time with The Bard Of Nottingham (and Jouste), leaving us with a beautiful and stirring anthem of a hopeful future without wars or battles. Even the Wizard and dragons exist outside of war, content that their lives are now filled with peace. A beautifully haunting song of grace, imagination and longing for a better world. The perfect farewell that leaves us wanting more yet feeling satisfied. The traveling troupe known as Jouste moves on now, only to return soon with more 'Tales From The Crimson Court'. Look for it in early 2026!