Henry V research

Henry v Research

Research Henry V.what is the play about?When was it first performed?Find a contemporary production of the play you can get an idea of and research it in terms of concept,style,design,casting.Give some attention to your own character and their role in the play.

What is the play is about?

Background information

The play is set in England in the early fifteenth century. The political situation in England is tense: King Henry IV has died, and his son, the young King Henry V, has just assumed the throne. Several bitter civil wars have left the people of England restless and dissatisfied. Furthermore, in order to gain the respect of the English people and the court, Henry must live down his wild adolescent past, when he used to consort with thieves and drunkards at the Boar’s Head Tavern on the seedy side of London.

An insulting message leads to war

Henry lays claim to certain parts of France, based on his distant roots in the French royal family and on a very technical interpretation of ancient land laws. When the young prince, or Dauphin, of France sends Henry an insulting message in response to these claims, Henry decides to invade France. Supported by the English noblemen and clergy, Henry gathers his troops for war.

A Conspiracy


Just before he sets sail, King Henry learns of a conspiracy against his life by . three traitors working for the French.They beg for mercy, but Henry denies their request. He orders that the trio, which includes a former friend named Scrope, be executed. 

Finally setting sail and rising up

The English finally set sail for France, where they fight their way across the country.  Though Against incredible odds, surprisingly they continue to win after conquering the town of Harfleur.At Harfleur Henry V gives a motivational speech to his men as they aim for victory.

Bardolph caught red handed

As the English Advance In France,lowlife part-time criminal Bardolph is caught looting a church.Though old friends of Henry at his command they are hanged.

Is everything going downhill?

The English are outnumbered by the French at the climax of war at the famous battle of Agincourt.The night before the battle, King Henry disguises himself as a soldier and talks to many of the soldiers in his camp.When speaking to them he learns about their opinion of the war and he also learns a bit about them too. 

Good things come to those that pray

In the morning, he prays to God about the battle and his men.He then gives another one of his famous inspiring speeches to his soldiers. Miraculously, the English win the battle, and the proud French must surrender at last. 

All's well that ends well

 peace negotiations are finally worked out: Henry will marry Catherine, the daughter of the French king. Henry’s son will be the king of France, and the marriage will unite the two kingdoms.

When was King Henry V first performed?

King Henry V was approximately written in early 1599 and performed in the spring of 1599 at the new Globe Theatre during Sundry times ,which would of been one of the earliest performances.

A Contemporary version of Henry V

A contemporary version of Henry V was performed in 2013 at Noel Coward Theatre, starring Jude Law as Henry.

The Trailer

How is it contemporary?(concept ans style)
This is a fast, well-staged account of a problematic play. Christopher Oram's design, dominated by a scarred wooden stockade, is practical and effective. And Neil Austin's lighting genuinely illumines two scenes: one where Ron Cook's turkeycock Pistol parts from Noma Dumezweni's touching Mistress Quickly has a flickering, firelit glow and the eve-of-Agincourt ruminations are accompanied by the "watchful fires" exactly specified in the text.-Guardian

Designed by Christopher Oram, is largely staged in medieval dress on a huge whitewashed stockade, to suggest the “wooden O” of the Globe Theatre to which the Chorus refers in the famous opening speech. But the Chorus, who also doubles as the Boy who hangs out with such reprobates as Pistol, Bardolph and Nym, is the one character in modern dress, sporting a Union Jack t-shirt and tacitly inviting us to compare Henry’s exploits with the conflicts of our own times. It is a simple but telling device that proves highly effective, especially since this time-shifting double role is played with such eloquence and wit by Ashley Zhangazha.-the telegraph

Michael then returns to the play itself and its author, dating Henry V around 1595: ‘Mid-career. Shakespeare wrote it the same year as Hamlet – a writer at the height of his confidence.’ He makes this last point with reference to the staging, in particular the simplicity of the Chorus’ opening speech: ‘We’ve got nothing. Just actors on a bare stage.’ Michael re-iterates that the Chorus is part of the twenty-first century – ‘our world’ – in an attempt to keep it relevant to us. ‘The Boy comes out of his own story to talk to us. He then gets slaughtered and comes back as the Chorus.’ He describes the final scene of the play as ‘truly charming’: ‘The Chorus comes on and tells us how Henry’s son messes it all up – “It was hell!” – blackout!’ - : http://www.mgcfutures.com/behind/making-5/#08

Casting

Joining previously announced Jude Law as 'Henry V', are Harry Attwell (Grey/Gower), Jason Baughan (Bardolph/Bates M. Le Fer), Norman Bowman (Nym/Williams), Jessie Buckley(Princess Katharine), Richard Clifford (Ely/King Charles VI), Ron Cook (Pistol), Ian Drysdale (Cambridge/Constable), Noma Dumezweni (Mistress Quickly/Alice), Michael Hadley(Canterbury), Edward Harrison (Westmoreland), Christopher Heyward (Macmorris/Orleans), James Laurenson (Exeter),Ben Lloyd-Hughes (Dauphin/Scroop), Prasanna Puwanarajah Matt Ryan (Fluellen), Ashley 
Zhangazha(Chorus/Boy).

Bardolph

Major revivals of the play

Major revivals in London during the 20th century include:

• 1900 Lyceum Theatre, Lewis Waller as Henry
• 1914 Shaftesbury Theatre, F.R. Benson as Henry
• 1916 His Majesty's Theatre, Martin Harvey as Henry
• 1920 Strand Theatre, Murray Carrington as Henry
• 1926 Old Vic Theatre, Baliol Holloway as Henry
• 1928 Lyric, Hammersmith, Lewis Casson as Henry (Old Vic Company)
• 1931 Old Vic Theatre, Ralph Richardson as Henry
• 1934 Alhambra Theatre, Godfrey Tearle as Henry
• 1936 Ring, Blackfriars, Hubert Gregg as Henry
• 1937 Old Vic Theatre, Laurence Olivier as Henry
• 1938 Drury Lane Theatre, Ivor Novello as Henry
• 1951 Old Vic Theatre, Alec Clunes as Henry
• 1955 Old Vic Theatre, Richard Burton as Henry
• 1960 Mermaid Theatre, William Peacock as Henry
• 1960 Old Vic Theatre, Donald Houston as Henry
• 1965 Aldwych Theatre, Ian Holm as Henry (Royal Shakespeare Company)
• 1972 Aldwych Theatre, Timothy Dalton as Henry (Prospect Theatre Company), also in 1974 in Roundhouse Theatre
• 1976 Aldwych Theatre, Alan Howard as Henry (Royal Shakespeare Company)
• 1985 Barbican Theatre, Kenneth Branagh as Henry (Royal Shakespeare Company)
• 2013 Noël Coward Theatre, Jude Law as Henry V (Michael Grandage Company)

In 2012 the Shakespeare's Globe's 2012 Globe to Globe festival Henry V was the UK entry, one of 37 and the only one performed in spoken English. Jamie Parker performed the role of Henry.

On British television the play has been performed as follows:

• 1951 Clement McCallin as Henry, Marius Goring as Chorus, Willoughby Gray as Pistol
• 1953 Colin George as Henry, Toby Robertson as Chorus, Frank Windsor as Pistol
• 1957 John Neville as Henry, Bernard Hepton as Chorus, Geoffrey Bayldon as Pistol
• 1960 Robert Hardy as Henry, William Squire as Chorus, George A. Cooper as Pistol
• 1979 David Gwillim as Henry, Alec McCowen as Chorus, Bryan Pringle as Pistol
• 2012 Tom Hiddleston as Henry, John Hurt as Chorus, Paul Ritter as Pistol

Wikipedia