When Henry IV dies, his son takes over the crown. The new king has risen to power in fragile and uncertain times. He is provoked by an insult from the French Prince Louis. His brother and his uncle elicit him to prove himself. Henry V decides to invade France.
Henry V has popularly been received as the celebration of an uncompromising nationhood and the eminence of imperial ambitions. But this production seems to offer several counter-narratives that exist within the story. Such as the story of Pistol, Bardolph, Nym and a young Boy, who are all caught up in the patriotic fervour and join Henry’s army, hoping to enrich themselves in the chaos of invasion. Their narrative brings to light the indifference of the kings towards their infantry and the unfair imbalance of power structures that divides people. It is also the story of a ruler with a fragile ego and his unending desire for power. When global power seems to be under large dictatorial leaders, watching Henry V is a relevant way to interrogate our society’s relationship with tyranny.
Imagine this, an ensemble of ten actors step onto the stage inside the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse that is draped with a green curtain. Helena Lymbery begins essaying Henry IV and we are inside the story. This attention remains intact until the last moment of the play. The production of Henry V is able to achieve everything that good theatre aims for- to be alive and conscious.
The design of the play is acoustic and economical. More often light’s contribution to the set is ignored as a soft function by many designers. However, Azusa Ono’s candle lit design creates an exceptional setting for the play. This economic design is consistent with music, sounds, costume and set. During transitions, it is exciting to see the ensemble announce their entries and exits written by Shakespeare. It is as if Shakespeare’s form has been used as content. This gives us an opportunity to witness the hidden collaboration between the writer and the actor. The ensemble comprised of stellar performances by Josephine Callies, James Cooney, Georgia Frost, Jon Furlong, Joshua Griffin, Eleanor Henderson, Oliver Johnstone, Geoffrey Lumb, Helena Lymbery and Dharmesh Patel. Notably Eleanor Henderson as Prince Louis and Helena Lymbery as Henry IV were very impressive. The work on fight direction by Kate Waters is phenomenal. The play is interluded with several moments of violence and dramatized intense action. Perhaps the challenge of watching these moments are a necessary fragment in depicting the psychology of men during wars. Henry V is Shakespeare’s premonition to the rise of the oppressive British Empire and its ominous sustainability through the past four centuries.
Henry V is breathtaking for its ambition, direction and the performances. A must watch show running at the Globe until February 4th 2023. https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on/henry-v-2022/
Reviewer: Akshay Raheja
Reviewed: 24th November 2022
North West End UK Rating: ★★★★★