The Royal Shakespeare Company is to continue its commitment to creating live theatre for young audiences with its First Encounters with Shakespeare production of The Famous Victories of Henry V.
Described as a “90-minute adventure condensing the three great plays of Henry IV Parts I and II and Henry V”, the production is aimed at 8- to 13-year-olds. It will open in June in schools in Warwickshire and also at the Swan Theatre in Stratford.
It then goes on a six-week tour of schools and regional theatres, with locations including Birmingham, Hull, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Leicester and Cornwall before travelling to the United States to play Ohio State University.
Owen Horsley, making his directing debut for the RSC, said, “our production, which tells how the wayward Prince Hal becomes a heroic and valiant king, is bold, dynamic and fun. With the help of our young audience we hope to create a lively show that celebrates the power of imagination and the wonder of theatre.
“In our school performances, we’re asking the students to be active parts of the theatre-making process. They’ll be providing props for the seven-strong acting company to use in performance as well as being part of the live action itself.”
Horsley is artistic director of Eyestring Theatre Company and in 2010 became associate director for Cheek by Jowl after being artistic director Declan Donnellan’s assistant director on a number of productions.
Designer is Simon Anthony Wells while Rachel Bown-Williams and Ruth Cooper-Brown look after the fights.
The tour of The Famous Victories of Henry V forms part of the RSC’s learning and performance network, a three-year touring and education partnership with ten regional theatres and schools.
RSC deputy artistic director Erica Whyman added, “this tour brings the thrill and excitement of these extraordinary plays right to the heart of schools, regional theatres and communities.
“Most importantly, those schools and theatres are long-term partners with us here at the RSC, all working to ensure children and young people have vivid, accessible and memorable experiences of theatre and Shakespeare.”
Further information is available at the RSC web site.