Act I

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It is 1381, England is at war with France.

The young King Richard is told by his Chief Adviser, Bampton, he needs to raise funds to finance fresh troops (War in France). Walworth, Mayor of London, chief enforcer of the population, and also influential at Court, proposes a Poll-Tax on the general population, including the majority Peasants, for whom such a tax will likely prove burdensome (Poll-Tax). 

Meanwhile, young peasant Jack Straw bursts in on his friend Wat Tyler, seeking refuge (Wat & Co). Jack is on the run from the Abbot, having fished illegally in the Abbot's lake. Wat and Jack are both keen to take action against the prevailing feudal system, in which peasants must work hard and with few rights, but Wat counsels patience. Wat's girl-friend, Katherine, now visits, but her younger sister, Vivienne, has followed her. Wat asks Jack to take Vivienne home, taking care to avoid both Vivienne's father and the Abbot (Take You Back). Now alone, Katherine tells Wat she is worried her powerful father will find about their relationship, and have Wat killed (This Can't Go On). He reassures her. There is change in the air, inspired by the ideas spread by John Ball, a Pastor to the peasantry. Anything is possible, as long as they remain together (Together).

Mr Knowles, servant to Walworth, prepares for work, assisted by his wife (The Knowles). They reflect on Katherine, whom they have known since her birth. Mrs Knowles worries about the influence the peasants she mixes with may be having on her, but Mr Knowles is less concerned. In his own quarters, Walworth muses the young King will soon require a bride, and decides upon the perfect candidate: his own daughter - Katherine (Come of Age). 

Bampton now makes the first attempt to collect the poll-tax from the peasants (Bampton). But they react violently, and chase him off. Excited at these developments, Wat and Jack look to capitalise on the peasants' reaction, and make plans to visit the King himself, to demand permanent change to how society is run (Here's Our Chance). After all, they believe, the King is closer to God in the natural order of things, so has the necessary power. 

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Back at the palace, a lavish function is under way. Walworth and Abbot discuss the prospects for the poll-tax (Gavotte), while Archbishop Sudbury, another of the King's inner circle, politely compliments Richard's mother, Joan, on her outfit (I Say My  Dear). The Abbot moves across to Katherine, inviting her to visit him, but she declines: her own pastor is John Ball (How You've Grown), a disclosure that causes some alarm amongst the guests. Walworth explains to Richard that John Ball is something of a renegade friar, with subversive ideas (Peasant Pastor). The event concludes with the final dance (Jig). 

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Alone, Richard chafes under the constant supervision and advice (I'm the King), while at that same moment Wat and Jack, having taken charge of the rebellion, strategise around approaching the young King: they are convinced he will be on their side. From his prison cell, John Ball remains upbeat about the future (Local Pastor), and, on cue, Wat arrives with rebels to free him. Bampton reports back to Richard on the peasants' response to the poll-tax (Bampton Returns), reassuring him that it is nothing serious. Walworth now visits Joan in her chambers to broach his proposal around Katherine (I Have a Proposal), but she dismisses the idea. He tells her coldly that plans are already in place. 

A young  village girl (or boy) laments on a peasant's lot (Can't Afford to Be Happy), but is joined by other villagers and finally Wat and his rebels, and the mood brightens. Witness to Katherine's flowering relationship with Wat, Vivienne queries why she too cannot enjoy the same experience (Why Can't I Be in Love?), while Walworth hosts a party for powerful friends (Great Party), not for the first time; he also assures them they need not be concerned about the peasant stirrings. 

The rebels camp for the night, gathering their spirits for the times ahead (Candle is Glowing). Waking, they prepare to march on London, for their historic meeting with the King (We're Off to London).  

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Act II

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Wat and his rebels have reached London but must now work out how to cross the Bridge to access the city (London Bridge). They settle on creating a fire as a diversion, to distract the Bridge's Guards. In London, Mrs Knowles is in a panic having learned the peasants have now taken over the city (Have You Seen?), but is reassured by Mr Knowles that the peasants pose no risk to them. 

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At Court, Richard and his advisors debate their course of action (They're Just Across the Road), whereupon a Messenger arrives from the rebels, politely requesting an audience with Richard. Walworth urges an immediate armed response, while Sudbury suggests they meet the peasants in good faith. Bampton, however, divines a potential weakness in the peasants' position: their view of the King. Richard wavers, undecided. 

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Jack has taken a group of rebels to visit his old nemesis, the Abbot (Hey Abbot), who responds frivolously (Ho Hum). But back at the Court, they are feeling the pressure (Final Straw). only for Bampton to lay out his plan: Richard will meet with the rebels, agree to all terms, and send them home (It Seems). It's agreed. 

At the main rebel camp, Wat frets on Jack's visit to the Abbot, but is reassured by John Ball (Troubled), at which point Jack returns, with a Message from the King: he will meet with them the next day. John Ball leads them in prayer to reflect and prepare (Prayer). Katherine confides in Vivienne her dilemma over her father's directive to be Richard's Queen (What Shall I Do?), when Walworth emerges from the shadows. Dismissing Vivienne, he urges Katherine to reconsider (Reconsidered), but when she refuses he insists the wedding proceed despite her. Preparing to meet the rebels, Richard prays for strength and inspiration (Richard's Dressing). 

The meeting takes place. Wat and the rebels lay out the details of their request (One King), and, as planned, Richard agrees (Wisdom) and promises major change (Serfdom). The rebels are overjoyed (We Knew), and Wat tells them they may now depart for home (Go Home); they leave. He will remain to seek the King's permission to marry Katherine. But now alone, he is found by Katherine, with an urgent warning that the King has laid a trap and he should run immediately (Betrayal).

Incredulous, Wat hesitates, but Jack staggers in, wounded, to confirm the worst: the King's forces have attacked, the rebels have fled, the cause is lost. And John Ball, talisman and hero to the peasants, has been killed. Wat accepts the situation and now takes charge (Scatter): the remaining rebels will disperse, he and Jack will hide while Jack recovers from this wounds, then head to Spain: their dream for revolution will need to await another time. Katherine is determined to accompany Wat: they will remain together come what may. Meanwhile, Walworth provides a murderous brief to his lieutenants for a brutal revenge (Rebel Scum). 

Some time has passed, and Mrs Knowles makes preparations to attend the royal wedding. Mr Knowles has decided not to attend (Not Going to the Wedding). Instead, he goes for a walk and meets Katherine and Wat; initially concerned for their safety, they part with fond farewell. At the church, the congregation greet their new Queen (Royal Wedding) and Sudbury conducts the ceremony: Vivienne is married to Richard. The people rejoice, the curtain falls. 

Wat returns to reflect on opportunities missed, but also with hope that in time, freedom for all will come (There is a Place in Time).