Historical context week 6

Henry V

Henry V is the last in a collection of four plays written by shakespeare ( Richard ||, Henry |V Part 1 and Henry |V Part 2), it is believed to have been written in 1599 over 100 years after the events if focus' on within the play, such as the battle of Agincourt. The play explores the political tension that is left after King Henry |V's death and the relationship between England and France in the early 15th century.

The play looks at the experience of war for soldiers and the horrors that come with it as well as the heroic nature and perception of war. It provides a powerful insight into what war may be like and aims to give the audience an understanding of this, Shakespeare's want to do this can be seen in the opening prologue of the play. This underlying aim allows the play to remain contemporary and to be able to be adapted for a changing audience, as was seen in the National Theatres production of Henry V in 2003. Nicholas Hytner adapted the play by setting it during the Iraq war, which in 2003 was extremely relevant. By doing this he allowed audiences to have a more contemporary relation to the play, as well as this he highlighted how things may not have changed and how hundreds of years later the same events are still occurring.

Similarly to our piece this contemporary adaptation aids in heightening the relevance and importance of the original words shakespeare wrote, whilst the setting may change the message still remains the same and the audience ultimately still see the same play.

My character of the Boy appears in both Henry iv part 2 and Henry V, he plays a very traditional role of a page - boy, serving as Falstaff's page in Henry iv part 1. In the National theatres 2003 production the scenes he was in were set in a London pup, a modern equivalent to the tavern they are set in in the original text. Costume is a key feature in showing their characters and they were all dressed in modern day casual clothes, representing normal english people and showing a world away from the war. Unlike in the original text the death of the boy is shown on stage in this production, this may have been done in order to create more of a shock and emotional connection from the audience or it may just have been due to the advance in theatrical ability from when the play was originally written. Whilst it may not have been able to look believable in the 15th C in a modern day production this is something they were able to achieve.

The Production in 2003 some have said to be to 'gimmicky' suggesting that the modern adaptation may have actually taken away from the purity of the script and clouded over it with technological and modern day advantages. Personally I find if the contemporary concept running through a play is strong and well thought through often it does aid in my connection and enjoyment of a performance. However, if the concept is at all flakey in places it immediately removes a connection and instead can leave you confused as to what is happening within the play.