Review of Henry V at Royal & Derngate (Royal), Northampton

The publicity blurb for this new production of Shakespeare's Henry V from Royal & Derngate, The Globe, Headlong with Leeds Playhouse reads "Civil unrest, trouble with Europe, and the death of our monarch…". Timing is everything they say, and for a play written 400 years ago depicting events over 600 years ago, the timing for this new production couldn't be better.

Headlong are well known for its striking productions of classic plays and works, with versions of All My Sons, Hedda Gabler (titled Hedda Tesman) and 1984 among those in their back catalogue. This new version of Henry V also has more than a passing glance at their most recent work to grace the Royal & Derngate stage, Richard III.

This Henry you see, performed by Oliver Johnstone, is more than a little like Richard in his portrayal. Our Henry V here you see is a more brutal, domineering, much more nasty piece of work and a needy daddy's boy than perhaps he is more often heroically portrayed. Henry V you seen is a thing of British honour, a strong King and heralding a heroic place for the country in this world. Here though, Henry V as a person is more petulant, a war-mongering monster.

It is all about the telling and delivery you see. The words that survive of Shakespeare generally remain the same, but adapter Cordelia Lynn has been ruthless in her cuts, making the words and the scenes feel like they are telling a different story at times, and certainly creating a character with different behavior and motives. In a good way that is, unless you like your Shakespeare exactly out of the book that is.

Johnstone's Henry is excellent, portrayed with a constant menace, and yes, I more than often thought he is a little like Richard III and that he would be able to portray that more broken King as well. There is no rallying the troops feel in the Johnstone portrayal of the famous breach moment, just a cowering, almost hope of success instead. This is a very multi-layered Henry, far more than you would expect.

Helena Lymbery is superb as Exeter, and indeed Henry IV, as we get a bit of Henry IV Part II at the start to give a bit of context to Henry V's state of mind. Geoffrey Lumb is also excellent as the initially strong and imposing King of France but soon to be cut down by the ruthless Henry. If it hadn't been for that pesky tennis ball gift!

The cast actually is all excellent, all portraying more than one character, with the exception of Johnstone. They are also rarely off stage as Moi Tran's set allows them to be seated on the sidelines until their call to arms is required. Tran's set is part ruffled curtain, part a wall of mirrors and battlements. The latter part again signals a return to Headlong's Richard III with its all-seeing mirrored backdrop. Perhaps, Headlong is right to recapture past successes and liberally spread them to other shows.

Much of the rest of the show is stripped back. The stage is deftly lit by Azusa Ono's lighting, evoking in the Royal the effect that the original candles of the Globe production had. The sound from Max Peppernheim is minimal, just adding a little menace to the background at times. Indeed this whole version created by director Holly Race Roughan allows the actors to simply do their stuff, while the fact the whole of the wings can be seen allows the audience very much to know they are seeing a group of people tell this story at its most basic level. It was lovely also after the curtain call to see the cast wander off, high-fiving, on their way no doubt to their dressing rooms.

The story finishes in a modern flourish, with a scene not penned by Shakespeare himself, but bringing the whole story bang up to date. It is a funny, effective scene, maybe making its audience more than a little uncomfortable as well. The idea does overrun though as the scene does play out a bit too long. We all got the joke much sooner.

Henry V is a clever, dynamic telling, and absolutely typical Headlong material. Purists might balk at some of the cuts, and some of the additions and their making Henry V a little less a warrior. However, those willing to see a change after 400 years might delight in what this production has to offer.

A striking reimagining of a King of old. Once more unto the theatre and all that!
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Performance reviewed: Wednesday 8th March 2023 at the Royal & Derngate (Royal), Northampton.

Henry V is at Royal & Derngate until 18th March 2023.

For further details about the Royal & Derngate and to book tickets see their website at http://www.royalandderngate.co.uk

Production photos: Ant Robling