Theatre

Henry IV Part I

Richard II is dead and his cousin Bolingbroke is now King Henry IV. Guilt about the removal of Richard troubles Henry’s conscience. He’d like to go to the Holy Land to pay penance but there are problems at home.

Henry’s reign faces growing opposition from some of those nobles who helped him to the throne – especially the Percy family. Wales and Scotland are threatening rebellion and Richard’s nominated heir, Edmund Mortimer, looms on the horizon. King Henry’s treatment of Henry ‘Hotspur’ Percy (the Earl of Northumberland’s son) only makes matters worse.

Henry’s own son, Prince Hal, is living a dissolute life, frequenting the taverns of Eastcheap in the company of Sir John Falstaff and other disreputable characters. Opposition to the king becomes open rebellion, led by Hotspur – who now supports Edmund Mortimer’s claim
to the throne. This rebellion brings Prince Hal back to his father’s side. The King’s army meets the rebels at the battle of Shrewsbury, where Hal vows to seek out and defeat Hotspur…

Henry IV Part II

In despair at the death of his son, Hotspur, the Earl of Northumberland lends his support to a second rebellion, led by the Archbishop of York. As the threat of civil war looms, King Henry IV grows ill. He fears that his son Prince Hal has returned to his old life with Falstaff.

The Chief Justice confronts Falstaff over reports of his criminal behaviour and, on top of that, Falstaff must face Mistress Quickly in court over unpaid debts. To keep him away from Hal, he is then sent on a recruiting expedition in support of King Henry and renews old acquaintances in Gloucestershire.

The rebel army is met by the king’s forces, led this time by his younger son, Prince John, and bolstered by Falstaff’s recruits. On his deathbed, King Henry is reconciled with Hal, who has begun to distance himself from Eastcheap and his old friend Falstaff. A new, mature Hal accepts the crown as Henry V.

Henry V

Soon after his accession, King Henry V considers making a claim to rule France as well as England. While consulting the Archbishop of Canterbury as to the justness of his claim, he receives an insulting “gift” of tennis balls from the French Dauphin and is spurred on to invade France.

The King’s former companions from the Eastcheap taverns hear of the death of Sir John Falstaff from
Mistress Quickly. They set out to join Henry’s army.

Despite the Dauphin’s insistence that Henry is an unworthy opponent, King Charles of France receives
Henry’s ambassadors but finally rejects Henry’s claim to the crown. Henry’s soldiers take the town
of Harfleur. While King Charles rouses his nobles to retaliation, his daughter Katherine begins to learn
English with the help of her companion, Alice.

The English soldiers are in poor condition disheartened by sickness and foul weather – and begin to make their way towards Calais. Henry rejects the French Herald’s offer of ransom and the two armies prepare to fight.

On the eve of the battle, Henry tours the camp in disguise and, sounding out the opinions of his men, considers the heavy responsibilities of kingship. In the French camp, by contrast, confidence is high. As battle begins, Henry rallies his troops and places them all in God’s hands.

An English victory is confirmed, with miraculously small losses. The battle is named for the castle that stands nearby – Agincourt. As part of the subsequent treaty, Henry woos and wins Princess Katherine to ensure the linking of the two countries through marriage.