RSC's Henry V to open on anniversary of battle of Agincourt and St Crispin's Day
19 September 2007
The first preview of Artistic Director Michael Boyd’s much anticipated production of Henry V, which completes his highly-acclaimed History Cycle in The Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon falls on 25 October 2007 – the 592nd anniversary of the battle of Agincourt and St Crispin’s Day.
The St Crispin’s Day speech, given by Henry V on the eve of the battle of Agincourt is one of the most well-known and often quoted speeches in Shakespeare’s history cycle:
‘And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs’d they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.’
Playing the young, restless and ambitious warrior king, Geoffrey Streatfeild is Henry V. His other roles in the History Cycle are: Suffolk in Henry VI Parts I and II, Rivers in Henry VI Part III and Richard III and most recently Prince Hal in Henry IV Parts I and II.
Geoffrey said: ‘This last one is a big one for me, but it’s really only the beginning. Soon we will start spinning all eight plates (when we play all eight plays in repertoire) which is what this ensemble is really about. Rehearsing Henry V is a huge and thrilling challenge and with the huge momentum of the ensemble behind it we're aiming to finish off the cycle in style’
His other theatre credits include: The History Boys and Bacchai for the National Theatre, Mountain Language for the Royal Court Theatre, Journey’s End for the Comedy Theatre and Nathan Wise and The Merchant of Venice in Chichester. His television work includes: Elizabeth I with Helen Mirren, 20,000 Streets Under the Sky, Midsomer Murders, The Other Boleyn Girl, Love in a Cold Climate and Sword of Honours. His films are: Paradise, Match Point and Kinky Boots.
The cast also includes: Nicholas Asbury (Pistol), Antony Bunsee (Charles Delabreth), Rob Carroll (Sir Thomas Grey and Macmorris), Richard Cordery (Charles IV, King of France), Matt Costain (Duke of Burgandy), Julius D’Silva (Bardolph), Keith Dunphy (Nym), Wela Frasier (Boy), Geoffrey Freshwater (Archbishop of Canterbury), Paul Hamilton (Captain Gower), Kieran Hill (Duke of Orleans), Chuk Iwuji (Montjoy), John Mackay (Lewis, The Dauphin), Forbes Masson (Chorus), Chris McGill (Duke of Bedford), Patrice Naiambana (Earl of Warwick), Luke Neal (Gloucester), Sandy Neilson (King of France/Sir Thomas Erpingham), Miles Richardson (Duke of Exeter), Lex Shrapnel (Michael Williams), Anthony Shuster (Clarence), Jonathan Slinger (Captain Fluellen), James Tucker (Henry Lord Scroop), Roger Watkins (Bishop of Ely), Hannah Barrie (Alice), Maureen Beattie (Mistress Quickly), Alexia Healy (Katherine) and Katy Stephens (Queen Isabel of France).
Henry V is directed by Michael Boyd, the associate director is Richard Twyman, set and costume designs are by Tom Piper, lighting by Heather Carson, sound by Andrea J Cox, music by John Woolf, fights by Terry King, movement by Liz Ranken, and the director of rope work is Matt Costain.
Further information
For more information please contact Nada Zakula in the RSC Press Office on 01789 412622 or nada.zakula@rsc.org.uk
Or Philippa Harland on 0207 845 0512 or philippa.harland@rsc.org.uk
For press tickets and regional enquires please call Dean Asker on 01789 412660 or dean.asker@rsc.org.uk
Notes to Editors:
- Holinshed's ‘Chronicles’, where Shakespeare learnt about Henry V, mentioned that the battle of Agincourt was fought on the feast of Crispin and Crispinian, October 25th. Ironically, the Crispin's Day oration says that "Crispin Crispian" will be remembered "from this day to the ending of the world" but by the time that Shakespeare was writing, it had been forgotten. The day was not celebrated in Elizabethan England, where as a result of the Protestant Reformation there had been a huge reduction in the number of festival days associated with saints and martyrs.
- The battle of Agincourt occurred on 25 October 1415, and Shakespeare’s speech was written in 1599.
- Crispin and Crispinian were once the patron saints of cobblers, tanners and leatherworkers. Born to a Roman family in the 3rd century AD, Saints Crispin and Crispinian, twin brothers, fled persecution for their faith, winding up in Soissons, where they preached Christianity to the Gauls and made their shoes by night. Their success attracted the ire of Rictus Varus, who had them tortured and beheaded c286. In the 6th century, a church was built in their honour at Soissons.
- Henry V opens in The Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon on 25 October, the press performance is on 6 November 2007 and it plays in repertoire with Henry VI Parts I, II and III, Richard III, Richard II and Henry IV Parts I and II until 16 March 2008.
- The RSC Ticket Hotline is 0844 800 1110, or tickets can be booked online www.rsc.org.uk (no booking fee).
- Histories photos from www.epo-online.com
- The Histories Season opens at the Roundhouse in London in April 2008.
Date of issue: 18 September 2007/NZ
