Royal Shakespeare Company

RSC Condenses Hal Plays for School Outreach

Following the success of this year's First Encounter production of The Taming of the Shrew, the RSC has commissioned its next specially adapted production for younger audiences. The Famous Victories of Henry V condenses Henry IV Parts I & II and Henry V into a 90-minute adventure for 8- to13-year-olds. Using Shakespeare's original language, the production introduces notorious bad boy Prince Hal as he swaps his rebellious life on the streets of London for the battlefields of France to become one of the most famous heroes in British history. Hal's epic journey into adulthood will lead its young audience through a life of scandal, parties, friendships, family feuds, rebellion, and new responsibilities, ending in glorious victory as the once infamous Prince of England becomes the brave and noble King Henry V.

After opening in Stratford-upon-Avon in June 2015, The Famous Victories of Henry V will tour to schools and theaters across England which all form part of the Learning and Performance Network, RSC's long-term education partnership program. The production will play in school halls and theater spaces across the country, including Hull, Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle under Lyme, Southampton, and York.

The title of The Famous Victories is taken from an early play that may have inspired Shakespeare to write the Henry plays. The production complements the RSC's recent stagings of Shakespeare's History plays (Richard II last winter, the two Henry IV's this summer and fall) and will be directed by Owen Horsley, making his directing debut for the RSC. Owen is currently assistant director for Gregory Doran on the Henry IV productions, artistic director of Eyestring Theatre Company, and associate director at Cheek by Jowl. The production will tour in the 600th anniversary year since the battle of Agincourt.

December 23, 2014

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