Edinburgh student play, ‘Fools and Knaves,’ focuses on a little-known part of Scottish history

If you asked most people about James I, they probably couldn’t tell you much, beyond his role as king of a united Scotland and England, or possibly his obsession with witches.

Edinburgh Univerisity student, Polly Dunn’s, new play, ‘Fools and Knaves,’ focuses on his not-so-secret preference for handsome young men, namely George Villiers, the Duke of Buckingham. The play will be performed this Friday as part of Bedfest, a four-day drama festival at Edinburgh student theatre, Bedlam, with many student-led short plays and performances.

According to Polly, “James I was as close to an openly-gay monarch as you could get in the 1600s.” He affectionately named Georgie Villiers ‘Steenie,’ after St Stephen, the saint said to have had the face of an angel.

Possibly no one hated the Duke of Buckingham more than the young Prince Charles, James’ son, who deeply resented having to take dance lessons with Villiers. Despite Charles’s lack of affection for him, Villiers saw an opportunity to be in an even better position with the king (no pun intended) . He and Charles ran away to Spain in an attempt to woo the Spanish Princess, Infanta, into marriage with Charles.

This little-known event in history forms the plot of Polly’s play, ‘Fools and Knaves.’

Polly first read about George Villiers “on the single half-a-page dedicated to him in my sixth form history book” but she knew “the story of his exploits with the Prince had all the makings of a queer coming of age comedy.”

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Polly’s play follows the pair on their journey, as they don disguises, visit backwater taverns and eventually cement their friendship. Though the mission is a failure, partly responsible for both their deaths (and the English Civil War), Polly’s play is uplifting, funny, and filled with innuendo, flamboyant costumes, and musical numbers.

Polly said: “‘Fools and Knaves’ became a tragicomedy, a commentary on the delusions of men in power, even as we find ourselves rooting for them to defy fate, knowing they never will.”

Go and see ‘Fools and Knaves’ on Friday the 31st of January in Bedlam Theatre, for a show that will re-make history.

Tickets are available here. 

For more about the other student plays on at Bedfest 2025, visit Bedlam’s site here.