Henry VI: The Houses of York & Lancaster

'The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers.'

The plays which make up Shakespeare’s Henry VI create a world without ideology; a savage time, when the heroes are not kings, but formidable women, such as Joan of Arc, or rebels, such as Jack Cade.

Bold characterisation, black comedy, rhetorical power and, in the personality of Henry VI, touching pathos combine in Shakespeare’s powerful rendering of a country racked by civil war.

Synopsis

The saintly Henry VI is undermined by his nobles, especially the ambitious Richard, Duke of York, and by the Kentish rebellion, led by the charismatic Jack Cade, popular champion and savage critic of England’s social inequality.

Part of the Battlefield Performances. A touring production of site-specific performances staged at the historic battle sites of the War of the Roses. This performance was captured live at Barnet.

Running time: 147 mins