2016 STUDY GUIDE Production Sponsor STUDY GUIDE Production Sponsor CORPORATE THEATRE PARTNER Sponsor...

Production Sponsor2016 STUDY GUIDE

CORPORATE THEATRE PARTNERSponsor for the 2016 season of the Tom Patterson Theatre

2016 STUDY GUIDEEDUCATION PROGRAM PARTNER

TOOLS FOR TEACHERSsponsored by

Cover: From left: Graham Abbey, Tom Rooney, Araya Mengesha, Geraint Wyn Davies.. Photography by Don Dixon.

PRODUCTION SUPPORTis generously provided by

The Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation and by Martie & Bob Sachs

Support for the 2016 season of the Studio

Theatre is generously provided by

Sandra & Jim Pitblado

Support for the 2016 season of the Festival Theatre is generously

provided by Claire & Daniel

Bernstein

Support for the 2016 season of the Avon

Theatre is generously provided by the

Birmingham family

Support for the 2016 season of the Tom

Patterson Theatre is generously provided by

Richard Rooney & Laura Dinner

INDIVIDUAL THEATRE SPONSORS

BREATH OF KINGS: REBELLION | REDEMPTION BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE CONCEIVED AND ADAPTED BY GRAHAM ABBEY

WORLD PREMIÈRE COMMISSIONED BY THE STRATFORD FESTIVAL DIRECTORS MITCHELL CUSHMAN AND WEYNI MENGESHA

Table of Contents

The Place

The Stratford Festival Story ........................................................................................ 1

The Play

The Playwright: William Shakespeare ........................................................................ 3

A Shakespearean Timeline ......................................................................................... 4

Plot Synopsis ............................................................................................................... 6

Sources and Origins .................................................................................................... 8

Stratford Festival Production History ......................................................................... 9

Who’s Who – Richard II - Breath of Kings - Rebellion (a) ........................................ 14

Who’s Who - Henry IV, Part 1 - Breath of Kings - Rebellion (b) .............................. 15

Who’s Who – Henry IV, Part 2 - Breath of Kings - Redemption (a) ......................... 16

Who’s Who – Henry V - Breath of Kings - Redemption (b) ...................................... 17

The English Monarchs of Histories ........................................................................... 18

The Production

Artistic Team and Cast .............................................................................................. 20

Lesson Plans and Activities

Richard II’s Abdication ......................................................................................... 21

A Tale of Two “Fathers”: A Look at Falstaff and Henry IV .................................. 25

A Look at Chorus in Henry V’s Prologue ............................................................. 29

Discussion Topics . .............................................................................................. 31

Resources ..................................................................................................... 32

THE

STRATFORD

STORY That Stratford, Ontario, is the home of the

largest classical repertory theatre in North

America is ultimately attributable to the

dream of one man, Stratford-born

journalist Tom Patterson.

In the early 1950s, seeing the economy of

his home town endangered by the

withdrawal of the railway industry that had

sustained it for nearly 80 years, Patterson

conceived the idea of a theatre festival

devoted to the works of William

Shakespeare. His vision won the support

not only of Stratford City Council and an

enthusiastic committee of citizens, but

also of the legendary British actor and

director Tyrone Guthrie, who agreed to

become the proposed festival’s first

Artistic Director. The Stratford

Shakespearean Festival of Canada was

incorporated as a legal entity on October

31, 1952. A giant canvas tent was

ordered from a firm in Chicago, and in the

parklands by Stratford’s Avon River work

began on a concrete amphitheatre at the

centre of which was to be a revolutionary

thrust stage created to Guthrie’s

specifications by internationally renowned

theatrical designer Tanya Moiseiwitsch.

From the balcony of that stage, on the

night of July 13, 1953, actor Alec

Guinness spoke the opening lines of

Richard III: “Now is the winter of our

discontent/ Made glorious summer by this

sun of York.” Those words marked the

triumphant end to what had sometimes

seemed a hopeless struggle against the

odds to turn Patterson’s dream into a

reality – and the beginning of an

astonishing new chapter in Canadian

theatre history. The other production of

that inaugural six-week season, a modern-

dress version of All’s Well That Ends Well,

opened the following night, confirming the

opinion of celebrated novelist Robertson

Davies that the new Festival was an

achievement “of historic importance not

only in Canada, but wherever theatre is

taken seriously – that is to say, in every

civilized country in the world.”

Time proved the truth of Davies’ words, for

the Festival’s pillared, porticoed thrust

stage revolutionized the performance of

classical and contemporary theatre in the

latter half of the 20th century and inspired

the design of more than a dozen other

major venues around the world, including

the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis, the

Beaumont Theatre at Lincoln Centre and,

in England, the Chichester Festival

Theatre, the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield

and the Olivier Theatre at the Royal

National Theatre in London. Over the

years, the Festival has made some

amendments to the original design of

Moiseiwitsch’s stage, without changing its

essential format.

At the end of the 1956 season, the giant

canvas tent that had housed the Festival’s

first four seasons was dismantled for the

last time to make way for a new and

permanent facility to be erected around

Breath of Kings - Rebellion/Redemption 2016 Study Guide

Stratford Festival 1

the existing stage. Designed by architect

Robert Fairfield, the new building would be

one of the most distinctive in the world of

the performing arts: its circular floor plan

and crenellated roof paying striking tribute

to the Festival’s origins under canvas.

In the years since its first season, the

Stratford Festival has set benchmarks for

the production not only of Shakespeare,

Molière, the ancient Greeks and other

great dramatists of the past, but also of

such 20th-century masters as Samuel

Beckett, Bertolt Brecht, Anton Chekhov,

Henrik Ibsen, Eugene O’Neill and

Tennessee Williams. In addition to

acclaimed productions of the best in

operetta and musical theatre, it has also

showcased–and in many cases

premièred– works by outstanding

Canadian and other contemporary

playwrights.

Its artists have included the finest actors,

directors and designers in Canada, as well

as many from abroad. Among the

internationally renowned performers who

have graced its stages are Alan Bates,

Brian Bedford, Douglas Campbell, Len

Cariou, Brent Carver, Hume Cronyn, Brian

Dennehy, Colm Feore, Megan Follows,

Lorne Greene, Paul Gross, Uta Hagen,

Julie Harris, Martha Henry, William Hutt,

James Mason, Eric McCormack, Loreena

McKennitt, Richard Monette, John Neville,

Nicholas Pennell, Christopher Plummer,

Sarah Polley, Douglas Rain, Kate Reid,

Jason Robards, Paul Scofield, William

Shatner, Maggie Smith, Jessica Tandy,

Peter Ustinov and Al Waxman.

Drawing audiences of more than 400,000

each year, the Festival season now runs

from April to November, with productions

being presented in four unique theatres. It

offers an extensive program of

educational and enrichment activities for

students, teachers and other patrons, and

operates its own in-house school of

professional artist development: The

Birmingham Conservatory for Classical

Theatre.

Stratford Festival performances take place

in four distinct stages:

Festival Theatre

Avon Theatre

Tom Patterson Theatre

Studio Theatre

For interactive classroom activities related to

the Stratford Festival, go to the CBC Digital

Archives: http://bit.ly/Yy7eK6



http://bit.ly/Yy7eK6

THE PLAYWRIGHT:

WILLIAM

SHAKESPEARE

Born in Stratford-upon-Avon, a small

Warwickshire town, in 1564, William

Shakespeare was the eldest son of John

Shakespeare, a glover, and Mary Arden,

the daughter of a wealthy farmer. The

exact date of his birth is unknown, but

baptismal records point to it being the

same as that of his death, April 23. He

probably attended what is now the Edward

VI Grammar School, where he would have

studied Latin literature, and at 18, he

married a farmer’s daughter, Anne

Hathaway, with whom he had three

children: Susanna, born in 1583, and, two

years later, the twins Hamnet (who died in

childhood) and Judith.

Nothing further is known of his life until

1592, when his earliest known play, the

first part of Henry VI, became a hit in

London, where Shakespeare was now

working as an actor. Soon afterwards, an

outbreak of the plague forced the

temporary closure of the theatres, and

Shakespeare turned for a while to writing

poetry. By 1594, however, he was back in

the theatre, acting with the Lord

Chamberlain’s Men. He quickly

established himself as one of London’s

most successful dramatists, with an

income that enabled him, in 1597, to buy

a mansion back in Stratford. In 1599 he

became a shareholder in London’s newly

built Globe Theatre.

In 1603, Shakespeare’s company was

awarded a royal patent, becoming known

as the King’s Men. Possibly as early as

1610, the playwright retired to his home in

Stratford-upon-Avon, living there – and

continuing to invest in real estate – until

his death on April 23, 1616. He is buried

in the town’s Holy Trinity Church.

In the first collected edition of his works in

1623, fellow dramatist Ben Jonson called

him a man “not of an age, but for all time”.

Not only did Shakespeare write some of

the most popular plays of all time, but he

was a very prolific writer, writing 38

(canonically accepted) works in 23 years.

His work covered many

subjects and styles, including comedies,

tragedies, histories and romances, all

bearing his hallmark expansive plots,

extraordinary language and humanist

themes. Shakespeare enjoyed great

popularity in his lifetime, and 400 years

later, he is still the most produced

playwright in the world.



ABOUT Breath of Kings

A SHAKESPEAREAN TIMELINE

1558 Elizabeth I crowned.

1564 William Shakespeare born.

1572 Actors not under the protection of a patron declared rogues and vagabonds.

1576 “The Theatre,” the first public playhouse in London, opens.

1577 “The Curtain,” London’s second playhouse, opens.

1578 James VI (later James I of England) takes over government of Scotland.

1579 Publication of North’s English translation of Plutarch’s Lives of the Noble Grecians

and Romans.

1580 Francis Drake returns in triumph form his voyage around the world; travelling players

perform at Stratford.

1582 Shakespeare marries Anne Hathaway; Susanna is born six months later and the twins

Hamnet and Judith in 1585.

1587 “The Rose” theatre opens in London. Mary Queen of Scots is executed.

1588 Spanish Armada defeated.

1589 Shakespeare finds work as an actor in London; he lives apart from his wife for 21

years.

1590-1591 The Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Taming of the Shrew.

1591 2 Henry VI, 3 Henry VI.



1592 Thousands die of plague in London; theatres closed. 1 Henry VI, Titus Andronicus,

Richard III.

1593 The Comedy of Errors.

1594 Shakespeare becomes a shareholder of his theatre company, The Lord

Chamberlain’s Men.

1594 Love’s Labour’s Lost.

1595 Richard II, Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

1596 Shakespeare’s son, Hamnet, dies.

1596-1597 King John, The Merchant of Venice, 1 Henry IV.

1597-1598 The Merry Wives of Windsor, 2 Henry IV, Much Ado About Nothing.

1598 “The Globe” theatre built.

1598-1599 Henry V, Julius Caesar.

1599-1600 As You Like It.

1600-1601 Hamlet, Twelfth Night.

1601 Shakespeare’s patron arrested for treason following the Essex rebellion; he is later

pardoned.

1602 Troilus and Cressida.

1603 Queen Elizabeth dies and is succeeded by James I; Shakespeare’s theatre company

becomes the King’s Men.

1603 Measure for Measure, Othello.

1604 Work begins on the King James bible.

1604-1605 All’s Well That Ends Well, Timon of Athens, King Lear (Q)

1606 Macbeth, Antony and Cleopatra.

1607 Pericles, Prince of Tyre.

1608 Coriolanus.

1609 The Winter’s Tale.

1610 King Lear (F), Cymbeline.

1610 Shakespeare retires to Stratford-upon-Avon.

1611 The Tempest.

1611 King James version of the bible published.

1613 Henry VIII (All is True), The Two Noble Kinsmen.

1613 “The Globe” theatre burns down.

1616 Shakespeare dies in Stratford-upon-Avon.

1623 The first folio of Shakespeare’s collected plays is published.

* some dates are approximate




SYNOPSIS OF THE PLOTS

SYNOPSIS - Rebellion

In a prologue to the play proper, the Duke of Gloucester is murdered while detained in Calais

on a charge of treason against his nephew, King Richard II.

Richard’s cousin Henry Hereford (known as Bolingbroke), accuses Thomas Mowbray, Duke

of Norfolk, of the assassination; Mowbray responds with counter-accusations of treason

against Bolingbroke. When they refuse to be reconciled, Richard – who bears ultimate

responsibility for Gloucester’s death – banishes them both.

Not long afterwards, Bolingbroke’s father, John of Gaunt, dies, bitterly railing against the

king – who promptly confiscates Gaunt’s estate to finance his forthcoming expedition

against Ireland. Supported by many among the English nobility, Bolingbroke returns from

exile with an army to reclaim his inheritance. His allies include two generations of the Percy

family: the Earls of Northumberland and Worcester, and Northumberland’s son, Harry Percy,

known as Hotspur.

Richard returns from Ireland to find himself bereft of allies. Eventually, he consents to resign

his throne in favour of Bolingbroke, who becomes King Henry IV. Richard is imprisoned,

while his queen is banished to France. Sir Pierce Exton, acting on what he believes to be the

new king’s wishes, murders Richard in his cell. Henry publicly deplores this deed, and

announces a crusade to the Holy Land to atone for it.

That plan has to be abandoned, however, when Henry’s reign runs into trouble. Rebellion

has already broken out in Wales, and Henry’s initial rejoicing at news of a victory over the

Scots turns to dismay when a dispute over prisoners alienates the Percy family and drives

them into the rebels’ arms.

Henry’s worries are compounded by the behaviour of his son, Hal, who spends his time in

idle pranks with a tavern-haunting crowd of dissolute companions – chief among them the

corpulent and colourful rogue Sir John Falstaff. Hal assures his father, however, that he will

soon reveal his true worth as a prince and help his father to victory – a promise that he

fulfills in battle against the rebels at Shrewsbury, where he kills Hotspur in single combat.

SYNOPSIS – Redemption

Having defeated one rebellion, led by the Percy family, King Henry IV must now face another,

fomented by the Archbishop of York. Meanwhile, the king remains concerned about his son,

Prince Hal, who, despite having demonstrated his worth on the field of battle, where he slew

Harry Percy (known as Hotspur), continues to consort with such unsuitable companions as

the disreputable braggart Sir John Falstaff.

Falstaff – who played an inglorious part in the defeat of the Percy rebellion, falsely trying to

take credit for Hotspur’s death – is now sent to Gloucestershire, where the aged justices



Shallow and Silence are to assist him in recruiting troops; he is unimpressed, however, both

with the quality of their candidates and with their reminiscences of their youth.

Prince John, Hal’s younger brother, parleys with the rebels and offers reconciliation;

however, as soon as he is assured their armies have dispersed, he arrests the Archbishop

and other leaders on charges of treason. The insurrection is crushed – but the king’s health

is failing. Before he dies, he advises Prince Hal to forestall further rebellion by uniting the

people in the common cause of a war abroad.

Hearing of Henry’s death, Falstaff expects preferment from the new king. But at his

coronation, Hal, now Henry V and mindful of the responsibilities of a ruler, banishes his

former crony from his presence. Broken-hearted, Falstaff dies not long after.

After despatching a nest of conspirators who intended to assassinate him, the new King

Henry embarks on a campaign against France. Having forced the surrender of Harfleur by

threatening atrocities against its citizens, he turns down the French king’s offer of a truce

and digs in for a decisive battle at Agincourt.

Vastly superior in numbers, the French see the exhausted English as no threat; however,

Henry, who has spent the night before the battle walking incognito among his troops, rallies

them in the morning with a brilliantly stirring speech and leads them to a triumphant victory.

He then makes peace – and consolidates his conquest – by marrying the French king’s

daughter, Princess Katherine.

Stratford Festival 2016: Tom Rooney as Richard II,

Graham Abbey as Henry IV. Photography by Don Dixon.

Stratford Festival 2016: Araya Mengesha as Hal/Henry V,

Geraint Wyn Davies as Falstaff. Photography by Don Dixon.




SOURCES AND ORIGINS

Breath of Kings is a compilation of what is often referred to as the Henriad, four plays

written by William Shakespeare: Richard II, Henry IV Part I, Henry IV Part II and Henry V.

Shakespeare based his history plays on second edition of Raphael Holinshed’s Chronicles,

a multi-volume work providing the history of the British Isles.

Breath of Kings is a sweeping epic, developed in the Festival’s Laboratory by Graham

Abbey, with participation from Daniel Brooks, John Murrell and professors Jane Freeman

and Randall Martin. It follows the lives, battles and deaths of kings Richard II, Henry IV and

Henry V.

STAGE HISTORY

This is the première production of Breath of Kings.

STRATFORD HD – Stratford Festival’s Productions Now on Film!

Sun Life Financial

Presents the best of Shakespeare on Cinema Screens in Spectacular HD

Premiering Worldwide at a Cinema Near You!

https://www.stratfordfestival.ca/WhatsOn/StratfordHD

Hamlet

The Taming of the Shrew

The Adventures of Pericles

Jonathan Goad as Hamlet, Deborah Hay and Ben Carlson as Kate and Petruchio and Evan Buliung as Pericles.





STRATFORD FESTIVAL

PRODUCTION HISTORY

This is the first production of Breath of Kings at the Stratford Festival. The production

history for the Henriad – Richard II, Henry IV Part I, Henry IV Part II and Henry V – is given

below.

Richard II

1964: Festival Theatre. Directed by Stuart Burge and designed by Desmond Heeley. The

production featured William Hutt (Richard II), Jackie Burroughs (Queen Isabel), Leo Ciceri

(Bolingbroke), Patrick Boxill (John of Gaunt), Leon Pownall (Henry Percy), Tony van Bridge

(Northumberland), Eric House (York), Len Birman (Aumerle), Mary Savidge (Duchess of

Gloucester), Patrick Crean (Salisbury), Len Cariou (Bushy), Heath Lamberts (Bagot), Garrick

Hagon (Green) and Bruno Gerussi (Mowbray). Music by John Cook. Patrick Crean was the

fight arranger.

1979: Avon Theatre. Directed by Zoe Caldwell and designed by Daphne Dare. The

production featured Stephen Russell/Frank Maraden/Nicholas Pennell (Richard II), Marti

Maraden (Queen Isabel), Craig Dudley/Jim McQueen/Rod Beattie (Bolingbroke), William

Needles (John of Gaunt), Michael Totzke (Henry Percy), Ted Follows (Northumberland), Eric

Donkin (York), Lorne Kennedy (Aumerle), Amelia Hall (Duchess of Gloucester), Peter

Donaldson (Salisbury), Wilfrid Dube (Bushy), Edward Evanko/Gregory Wanless (Bagot), John

Wojda (Green) and Rodger Barton (Mowbray). Music by Berthold Carrière. Michael J.

Whitfield was the lighting designer and Patrick Crean was the fight arranger.

1983: Festival Theatre. Directed by Richard Cottrell and designed by John Pennoyer and

Michael Annals. The production featured Brian Bedford (Richard II), Rosemary Dunsmore

(Queen Isabel), Cedric Smith (Bolingbroke), Lewis Gordon (John of Gaunt), Simon Bradbury

(Henry Percy), Graeme Campbell (Northumberland), Douglas Campbell (York), John Jarvis

(Aumerle), Elizabeth Leigh-Milne (Duchess of Gloucester), John Novak (Salisbury), Keith

Dinicol (Bushy), Hardee T. Linehan (Bagot), Robert LaChance (Green) and Ned Schmidtke

(Mowbray). Music by Louis Applebaum. Harry Frehner was the lighting director.

1999: Tom Patterson Theatre. Directed by Martha Henry. Charlie Tomlinson was the

assistant director and Andrew Freund was the apprentice director. Astrid Janson was the

set designer and Allan Wilbee was the costume designer. The production featured Geordie

Johnson (Richard II), Maggie Blake (Queen Isabel), John Dolan (Bolingbroke), Joseph Shaw

(John of Gaunt), Nicolas van Burek (Henry Percy), Robert King (Northumberland), John

Gilbert (York), Martin Albert (Aumerle), Patricia Collins (Duchess of Gloucester), Stephen

Russell (Salisbury), Jordan Pettle (Bushy), Steve Ross (Bagot), Donald Carrier (Green) and

Bradley C. Rudy (Mowbray). Louise Guinand was the lighting designer, Todd Charlton was

the sound designer and James Binkley was the fight director.



Henry IV Part I

1958: Festival Theatre. Directed by Michael Langham; designed by Tanya Moiseiwitsch and

Marie Day. The productions featured Max Helpmann (King Henry IV), Douglas Rain (Prince

Hal), Jason Robards Jr. (Henry Percy – Hotspur), Douglas Campbell (John Falstaff), Peter

Donat (Richard Vernon), Powys Thomas (Owen Glendower), William Hutt (Worcester),

Conrad Bain (Northumberland), Charmion King (Lady Percy), Tammy Grimes (Mistress

Quickly), Diana Maddox (Lady Mortimer) and Christopher Plummer (Bardolph). Music by

John Cook. Douglas Campbell was the fight arranger.


production featured Leo Ciceri (King Henry IV), Douglas Rain (Prince Hal), Douglas Campbell

(Henry Percy – Hotspur), Tony van Bridge (John Falstaff), Bruno Gerussi (Richard Vernon),

Powys Thomas (Owen Glendower), William Needles (Worcester), Mervyn Blake

(Northumberland), Martha Henry (Lady Percy), Mary Savidge (Mistress Quickly), Joan

Karasevich (Lady Mortimer) and Eric Christmas (Bardolph). Music by John Cook. Patrick

Crean was the fight arranger.

1979: Festival Theatre. Directed by Peter Moss; designed by Daphne Dare and John

Pennoyer. The production featured Douglas Rain (King Henry IV), Richard Monette (Prince

Hal), Stephen Russell (Henry Percy – Hotspur), Lewis Gordon (John Falstaff), Philip J. Craig

(Richard Vernon), Patrick Christopher (Owen Glendower), Cedric Smith (Worcester), Graeme

Campbell (Northumberland), Margot Dionne (Lady Percy), Jennifer Phipps (Mistress

Quickly), Alicia Jeffery (Lady Mortimer) and John Cutts (Bardolph). Music by Gabriel

Charpentier. Michael J. Whitfield was the lighting director and Patrick Crean was the fight

arranger.

1984: Third Stage (now the Tom Patterson Theatre). Directed by Michael Langham and

designed by Desmond Heeley. The production featured John Franklyn-Robbins (King Henry

IV), David Ferry (Prince Hal), Joseph Ziegler (Henry Percy – Hotspur), Douglas Campbell

(John Falstaff), John Moffat (Richard Vernon), Graeme Campbell (Owen Glendower),

Nicholas Pennell (Worcester), Graeme Campbell (Northumberland), Maria Ricossa (Lady

Percy), Mary Haney (Mistress Quickly), Maggie Hurulak (Lady Mortimer) and Laurence

Russo (Bardolph). Music by Louis Applebaum. Louise Guinand was the lighting designer,

B.H. Barry was the fight arranger and Elliott Hayes was the dramaturge.

2001: Tom Patterson Theatre. Directed by Scott Wentworth; Sabian Trout was the assistant

director. Patrick Clark was the designer. The production featured Benedict Campbell (King

Henry IV), Graham Abbey (Prince Hal), Jonathan Goad (Henry Percy – Hotspur), Douglas

Campbell (John Falstaff), Evan Buliung (Richard Vernon), Stephen Russell (Owen

Glendower), Richard McMillan (Worcester), Ian Deakin (Northumberland), Jane Spence

(Lady Percy), Diana D’Aquila (Mistress Quickly), Sara Topham (Lady Mortimer) and Barry

MacGregor (Bardolph). Music by Craig Bohmler. Louise Guinand was the lighting designer,

Todd Charleton was the sound designer and John Stead was the fight director.

2006: Tom Patterson Theatre. Directed by Richard Monette; Timothy Askew was the

associate director. Dana Osborne was the designer. The production featured Scott

Wentworth (King Henry IV), David Snelgrove (Prince Hal), Adam O’Bryne (Henry Percy –

Hotspur), James Blendick (John Falstaff), Brian Tree (Richard Vernon), Raymond O’Neill

(Owen Glendower), Sean Arbuckle (Worcester), Brian Tree (Northumberland), Jennifer

Mawhinney (Lady Percy), Domini Blythe (Mistress Quickly), Laura Condlln (Lady Mortimer)



and Barry MacGregor (Bardolph). Music by Keith Thomas. Steven Hawkins was the lighting

designer, Wade Staples was the sound designer, dance staged by Lawrence Heagert and

James Binkley and John Stead were the fight directors.

Henry IV Part II


production featured Leo Ciceri (King Henry IV), Douglas Rain (Prince Hal), Tony van Bridge

(John Falstaff), John C. Juliani (John of Lancaster), William Needles (Lord Chief Justice), Eric

Christmas (Bardolph), Peter Donat (Pistol), William Hutt (Justice Shallow), Mervyn Blake

(Justice Silence), Al Kozlik (Feeble), Martha Henry (Lady Percy), Mary Savidge (Mistress

Quickly), Frances Hyland (Doll Tearsheet) and Ken James (Rumour). Music by John Cook.

1979: Festival Theatre. Directed by Peter Moss. Designed by Daphne Dare and John

Pennoyer. The production featured Douglas Rain (King Henry IV), Richard Monette (Prince

Hal), Lewis Gordon (John Falstaff), Stewart Arnott (John of Lancaster), Max Helpmann (Lord

Chief Justice), John Cutts (Bardolph), Rod Beattie (Pistol), Cedric Smith (Justice Shallow),

Mervyn Blake (Justice Silence), Richard McMillan (Feeble), Margot Dionne (Lady Percy),

Jennifer Phipps (Mistress Quickly), Martha Henry (Doll Tearsheet) and John Wojda

(Rumour). Music by Gabriel Charpentier. Michael J. Whitfield was the lighting designer.

2001: Tom Patterson Theatre. Directed by Scott Wentworth; Sabian Trout was the assistant

director. Patrick Clark was the designer. The production featured Benedict Campbell (King

Henry IV), Graham Abbey (Prince Hal), Douglas Campbell (John Falstaff), Robert Hamilton

(John of Lancaster), Stephen Russell (Lord Chief Justice), Barry MacGregor (Bardolph),

Keith Dinicol (Pistol), Lewis Gordon (Justice Shallow), William Needles (Justice Silence), Ian

Deakin (Feeble), Jane Spence (Lady Percy), Diane D’Aquila (Mistress Quickly), Kate Trotter

(Doll Tearsheet) and Keith Dinicol (Rumour). Music by Craig Bohmler. Louise Guinard was

the lighting designer, Todd Charlton was the sound designer and John Stead was the fight

director.

Henry V

1956: The Tent. Directed by Michael Langham and designed by Tanya Moiseiwitsch. The

production featured Christopher Plummer (Henry V), Robert Goodier (Exeter), Tony van

Bridge (York), William Hutt (Archbishop of Canterbury), Robert Christie (Bishop of Ely), David

Gardner (Gower), Eric House (Fluellen), Douglas Rain (Williams), Tony Van Bridge

(Bardolph), Douglas Campbell (Pistol), Robin Gammell (Boy), Gratien Gelinas (Charles VI),

Roger Garceau (Lewis the Dauphin), Lloyd Bochner (Burgundy), Jacques Godin (Montjoy),

Ginette Letondal (Katherine), Germaine Giroux (Alice), Helene Winston (Nell Quickly) and

William Needles (Chorus). Music by Louis Applebaum.

1956: Tour, Assembly Hall, Edinborough, Scotland. Directed by Michael Langham and

designed by Tanya Moiseiwitsch. The production featured Christopher Plummer (Henry V),

Robert Goodier (Exeter), Tony van Bridge (York), William Hutt (Archbishop of Canterbury),

Robert Christie (Bishop of Ely), David Gardner (Gower), Eric House (Fluellen), Douglas Rain

(Williams), Tony Van Bridge (Bardolph), Douglas Campbell (Pistol), Robin Gammell (Boy),

Gratien Gelinas (Charles VI), Roger Garceau (Lewis the Dauphin), Lloyd Bochner (Burgundy),

Jean Coutu (Montjoy), Ginette Letondal (Katherine), Germaine Giroux (Alice), Helene

Winston (Nell Quickly) and William Needles (Chorus). Music by Louis Applebaum.



1966: Festival Theatre. Directed by Michael Langham and designed by Desmond Heeley.

The production featured Douglas Rain (Henry V), Tony van Bridge (Exeter), Eric Donkin

(York), Briain Petchey (Archbishop of Canterbury), Eric Donkin (Bishop of Ely), John Byron

(Gower), Bernard Behrens (Fluellen), Barry MacGregor (Williams), Eric Christmas (Bardolph),

Powys Thomas (Pistol), Larry Aubrey (Boy), Leo Ciceri (Charles VI), Gaetan Lebreche (Lewis

the Dauphin), Jean-Louis Roux (Burgundy), Richard Monette (Montjoy), Diana Leblanc

(Katherine), Kim Yaroshevskaya (Alice), Amelia Hall (Nell Quickly) and William Hutt (Chorus).

Music by John Cook. Patrick Crean was the fight arranger.

1967: CBC Television Production. Directed by Michael Langham and designed by Desmond

Heeley. Directed for television by Lorne Freed. The production featured Douglas Rain (Henry

V), Tony van Bridge (Exeter), Eric Donkin (York), Briain Petchey (Archbishop of Canterbury),

Eric Donkin (Bishop of Ely), John Byron (Gower), Bernard Behrens (Fluellen), Barry

MacGregor (Williams), Eric Christmas (Bardolph), Powys Thomas (Pistol), Heath Lamberts

(Boy), Jean Gascon (Charles VI), Gaetan Lebreche (Lewis the Dauphin), Jean-Louis Roux

(Burgundy), Richard Monette (Montjoy), Diana Leblanc (Katherine), Kim Yaroshevskaya

(Alice), Amelia Hall (Nell Quickly) and William Hutt (Chorus). Music by John Cook. Patrick

Crean was the fight arranger.

1980: Festival Theatre. Directed by Peter Moss. Designed by Daphne Moss and John

Pennoyer. The production featured Richard Monette/Jack Wetherall (Henry V), Lewis

Gordon (Exeter), William Merton Malmo (York), Maurice E. Evans (Archbishop of

Canterbury), John Wojda (Bishop of Ely), Joel Kenyon (Gower), Barry MacGregor (Fluellen),

Richard McMillan (Williams), John Cutts (Bardolph), Rod Beattie (Pistol), Stephen Ouimette

(Boy), Maurice Good (Charles VI), Lorne Kennedy (Lewis the Dauphin), William Webster

(Montjoy), Diana Leblanc (Katherine), Sophie Gascon (Alice), Amelia Hall (Nell Quickly) and

Douglas Rain (Chorus). Music by Gabriel Charpentier. Michael J. Whitfield was the lighting

designer, with movement by William Merton Malmo.

1989: Avon Theatre. Directed by John Wood and designed by John Ferguson. The

production featured Geraint Wyn Davies (Henry V), Stephen Russell (Exeter), Eric Donkin

(Archbishop of Canterbury), Ian White (Bishop of Ely), Kevin Gudahl (Gower), William Dunlop

(Fluellen), Robert King (Williams), Nolan Jennings (Bardolph), Peter Donaldson (Pistol),

Roger Honeywell (Boy), Eric Donkin (Charles VI), Antoni Cimolino (Lewis the Dauphin),

Mervyn Blake (Burgundy), Allan Gray (Montjoy), Kim Horsman (Katherine), Anne Wright

(Alice and Nell Quickly) and William Needles (Chorus). Music by Alan Laing. John Munro was

the lighting designer and Alan Laing was the sound designer.

2001: Avon Theatre. Directed by Jeannette Lambermont; Matthew Kutas was the assistant

director. Dany Lyne was the designer. The production featured Graham Abbey (Henry V),

Brad Rudy (Exeter), Haysam Kadri (York), Bernard Hopkins (Archbishop of Canterbury),

Stephen Russell (Bishop of Ely), Ian Deakin (Gower), Wayne Best (Fluellen), Evan Buliung

(Williams), Barry MacGregor (Bardolph), Keith Dinicol (Pistol), Paul Dunn (Boy), Donald

Carrier (Charles VI), Nicolas van Burek (Lewis the Dauphin), Joseph Shaw (Burgundy),

Michael Therriault (Montjoy), Sara Topham (Katherine), Domini Blythe (Alice), Diane

D’Aquila (Nell Quickly) and Seana McKenna (Chorus). Barbara Young was the music

designer, Bonnie Beecher was the lighting designer, Wade Staples was the sound and video

designer, Donna Feore was the choreographer and John Stead was the fight consultant.

2012: Festival Theatre. Directed by Des McAnuff; Lezlie Wade was the associate director

and Eric Benson was the assistant director. Robert Brill was the set designer and Paul



Tazewell was the costume designer. The production featured Aaron Krohn (Henry V),

Timothy D. Stickney (Exeter), Xuan Fraser (York), James Blendick (Archbishop of

Canterbury), David Collins (Bishop of Ely), Wayne Best (Gower), Ben Carlson (Fluellen), Luke

Humphrey (Williams), Randy Hughson (Bardolph), Tom Rooney (Pistol), Sophia Walker (Boy),

Richard Binsley (Charles VI), Gareth Potter (Lewis the Dauphin), Juan Chioran (Montjoy),

Bethan Jillard (Katherine), Deborah Hay (Alice) and Lucy Peacock (Nell Quickly). The

following actors played the Chorus: Wayne Best, Richard Binsley, Michael Blake, Dan

Chameroy, Juan Chioran, David Collins, Ryan Field, Xuan Fraser, Stephen Gartner, Deborah

Hay, Randy Hughson, Luke Humphrey, Robin Hutton, Bethany Jillard, Claire Lautier, Lucy

Peacock, Gareth Potter, Tom Rooney, Stephen Russell, Tyrone Savage, Timothy D. Stickney

and Sophia Walker. Michael Roth was the composer, Michael Walton was the lighting

designer, Peter McBoyle was the sound designer, Adrian Young was the aerial stunt co-

ordinator, Robert Blacker was the dramaturge, Nicola Pantin was the choreographer and

Steve Rankin was the fight director.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCTION

PERIOD AND SETTING

Rebellion: The production will evoke the historical period and setting of the events depicted

– late 14th- and early 15th-century England, Wales and France – but the costuming will

likely also have modern overtones.

Redemption: The production will evoke the historical period and setting of the events

depicted – 15th-century England and France – but the costuming will likely also have

modern overtones.

For more classroom activities, complete with instructions, materials and Ontario curriculum

expectation links, visit stratfordfestival.ca/teachingmaterials.

You can also check out the following:

The Forum, a series of remarkable events to enrich the play-going experience:

www.stratfordfestival.ca/forum/ .

Stratford Festival’s YouTube channel for behind-the-scenes videos, photos and

interviews: www.youtube.com/user/stratfordfestival

Stratford Festival’s Flickr pages: www.flickr.com/photos/stratfest/

Stratford Festival Twitter: twitter.com/stratfest

Stratford Festival Facebook: www.facebook.com/StratfordFestival



http://www.stratfordfestival.ca/forum/default.aspx

http://www.youtube.com/user/stratfordfestival

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stratfest/

https://twitter.com/stratfest

https://www.facebook.com/StratfordFestival

Richard II – Breath of Kings – Rebellion (a)

married son married

Duchess of York Duchess of Gloucester

son

son

Queen Isabel - married - RICHARD II HENRY BOLINGBROKE , later KING HENRY IV

Supporters Supporters

Edward, Earl of Rutland, Duke of Aumerle Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland Lord Fitzwater

Abbot of Westminster Harry Percy (Hotspur) his son Sir Pierce of Exton

Bishop of Carlisle Lord Ross

Sir Stephen Scroop Lord Willoughby

Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk

Duke of Surrey

Earl of Salisbury

Lord Berkeley

Bushy / Bagot / Green

Edward III

1st son / Edward (The Black Prince)

5th son / Edmund of Langley, Duke of

York

4th son / John of Gaunt, Duke of

Lancaster

6th son / Thomas of Woodstock ,

Duke of Gloucester



Henry IV, Part 1 – Breath of Kings – Rebellion (b)

THE KING’S PARTY

THE REBELS

King Henry IV

Prince Hal (Henry) his son

Lord John of Lancaster, his son

Henry Percy, Earl of

Northumberland

His brother Thomas Percy,

Earl of Worcester

Harry - Hotspur, Northumberland's

son

Kate, Lady Percy, married to

Hotspur

Lord Edmund Mortimer,

brother to Kate

Lady Mortimer, married to

Edmund

Owen Glendower, father of Lady

Mortimer

Richard Scrope, Archbishop of

York

Sir Michael

Sir Richard Vernon

Earl of Douglas

Associates of Prince Hal

Sir John Falstaff

Sir John’s Companions:

Hostess, Mistress Nell Quickly

Peto

Bardolph

Poins

Francis

Vintner

Gadshill

SUPPORTERS

Earl of Westmorland

Sir Water Blunt



Henry IV, Part 2 – Breath of Kings – Redemption (a)

FALSTAFF, HIS COMPANIONS AND OTHER CITIZENS

SUPPORTERS OF THE KING

Sir John Blunt

Earl of Westmorland

Earl of Surrey

Earl of Warwick

Harcourt

Lord Chief Justice

THE REBELS

Hen

ry IV

Prince Henry, later King Henry V

Prince John of Lancaster

Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester

Thomas, Duke of Clarence

Sir John Falstaff

•Peto

•Bardolph

•Poins

•Pistol

•Doll Tearsheet

•Hostess, Mistress Nell Quickly

•Will

•Drawer

•Francis

The Law •Robert Shallow

•Silence

•Davy

Country Soldiers

•Ralph Mouldy

•Peter Bullcalf

•Francis Feeble

•Thomas Wart

•Simon Shadow

Earl of Northumberland

Lady Northumberland,

his wife Lady Percy, her daughter-in-

law / widow of Harry Hotspur

Lord Bardolph

Lord Hastings Lord

Mowbray

Archbishop of York

Sir John Coleville



Henry V – Breath of Kings – Redemption (b)

THE ENGLISH COURT THE FRENCH COURT

Henry IV (deceased)

King Henry V

Duke of Exeter

Duke of York

Earl of Westmorland

Earl of Huntingdon

Earl of Warwick

Earl of Salisbury

Archibishop of Canterbury

Bishop Ely

Duke of Bedford

Duke of Gloucester

Duke of Clarence

Charles VI, King of France

Queen Isabel, his wife

Lewis, the Dauphin, their

son

Katheriine, their daughter, later

marries Henry V

Conspirators

Richard, Earl of Cambridge

Sir Thomas Grey

Henry, Lord Scroop

Grandpré

Rambures

Duke of Bourbon

Duke Britaine

Duke of Berri

Duke of Orleans

Duke of Burgundy

Charles, Delabreth, Constable

Governor of Harfleur

Monsieur le Fer

Montjoy

Herald

Ambassadors

The English Army –

Officers

Sir Thomas Erpingham

Captain Fluellen

Captain Gower

Captain Jamy

Captain MacMorris The English Army – Soldiers (Henry visits them in disguise)

John Bates / Alexander Court / Michael Williams

Associates of Falstaff: Lieutenant Bardolph / Corporal Nym / Ancient {Ensign] Pistol

(married to Hostess Quickly)

Chorus



The English Monarchs of the Histories



Who was the legitimate heir?

There was good reason for argument over who was the legitimate heir of Edward

III on Richard's death, since the principle of succession was not fully settled

(though by the time Shakespeare was writing it was clearly the "heir general").

There were two arguments, and two heirs.

Heir male: one whose lineage can be traced in the male line of descent

from a king, the eldest line of descent given precedence (in this case the

rightful heir was Henry Bolingbroke, son of John of Gaunt, fourth son of

Edward III).

Heir general: one whose lineage is traced through either male or female

descendants of a king, the eldest line of descent given precedence (in this

case Richard's heir was Edmund Mortimer, grandson of Philippa, daughter

of Lionel of Clarence, third son of Edward III).

Edward III and Henry V each laid claim to the French throne as an heir general,

tracing their descent through Edward's mother.

Best, Michael. Internet Shakespeare Editions, University of Victoria: Victoria, BC, 2001-2010.

<<http://internetshakespeare.uvic.ca/>. Accessed February 5, 2016.

http://internetshakespeare.uvic.ca/Library/SLT/history/the%20histories/henryiv.html

http://internetshakespeare.uvic.ca/Library/SLT/history/the%20histories/kings1.html

Accessed on February 5, 2016.

Stratford Festival 2016: Araya Mengesha as Hal –Henry V.

Photography by Don Dixon.



http://internetshakespeare.uvic.ca/Library/SLT/history/the%20histories/normans.html

http://internetshakespeare.uvic.ca/Library/SLT/history/the%20histories/henryiv.html

http://internetshakespeare.uvic.ca/Library/SLT/history/the%20histories/kings1.html

ABOUT Breath of Kings: Rebellion and Redemption

2016 Stratford Festival Production Rebellion - May 30 to September 24 – opens June 22

Redemption - May 31 to September 24 – opens June 22

By William Shakespeare

Conceived and adapted by Graham Abbey

Director Weyni Mengesha (Rebellion)

Director Mitchell Cushman (Redemption)

Set Designer Anahita Dehbonehie

Costume Designer Yannik Larivée

Lighting Designer Kimberly Purtell

Composer & Sound Designer Debashis Sinha

Fight Director John Stead

Associate Director Graham Abbey

Cast

Graham Abbey Bolingbroke/Henry IV

Wayne Best Worcester, Duke of Gloucester, King of France

Shane Carty Bagot, Duke of Orleans

Mikaela Davies Katherine

Michelle Giroux Doll Tearsheet

Sébastien Heins Aumerle, John of Lancaster

Kate Hennig Mistress Quickly, Gower

Randy Hughson Duke of York, Pistol

Claire Lautier Lady Mortimer

Araya Mengesha Prince Hal/Henry V

Gordon S.Miller Poins, Mortimer, Exton, Davy

Tom Rooney Richard II, Chorus

Anusree Roy Duchess of York, Alice

Stephen Russell Gaunt

Jonathan Sousa Hotspur

Carly Street Lady Percy, Mowbray, Archbishop of York

Nigel Shawn Williams Northumberland, Exeter

Geraint Wyn Davies Falstaff, Fluellen, Old Gardener



Imaginative Ways to Approach the Text

BREATH OF KINGS – Richard II’s Abdication - Richard II, Act IV, scene 1

The students will be the actors and directors of this scene. They will analyse and search Shakespeare's text for clues and then stage each character's movements and behaviour.

OVERVIEW

Grade Level

7-12

Subject Area

English, Drama

Curriculum Expectations and Learning Outcome

Develop and explain

interpretations of the

Shakespearean text, using

evidence from the text and

visual cues to support their

interpretations;

Analyse texts, examining

how various aspects of the

text contribute to

the presentation;

Identify and use a variety of techniques or methods to develop a

character.

Time Needed

1-2 class

Periods

Space

Desks in groups,

then open

spaces for

exploring the text

Materials

Attached handouts

of Activities



Richard’s Abdication (excerpt) - Richard II, Act IV, scene 1

DUKE OF YORK

To do that office of thine own good will

Which tired majesty did make thee offer,

The resignation of thy state and crown

To Henry Bolingbroke.

KING RICHARD II

Give me the crown.

Here, cousin - seize the crown. Here cousin -

On this side, my hand; and on that side, thine.

Now is this golden crown like a deep well

That owes two buckets, filling one another, owns The emptier ever dancing in the air,

The other down, unseen, and full of water.

That bucket down and full of tears am I,

Drinking my griefs, whilst you mount up on high.

HENRY BOLINGBROKE

I thought you had been willing to resign.

KING RICHARD II

ACTIVITY

Henry Bolingbroke summons Richard so that he may abdicate the crown to him in full

view of the nobles. Helpless and despairing, Richard enters; he delays giving

Bolingbroke the crown with a long, grief-stricken monologue in which he surrenders

land, crown, and kingship.

You are the actors/directors of this scene. Read the entire scene first then work out

how you envision each character would behave and respond physically and

emotionally. Hint: The staging clues are in the text!



My crown I am; but still my griefs are mine.

You may my glories and my state depose,

But not my griefs. Still am I king of those.

HENRY BOLINGBROKE

Part of your cares you give me with your crown.

KING RICHARD II

Your cares set up do not pluck my cares down. wordplay on care = grief / responsibility

My care is loss of care by old care done; diligence / anxiety Your care is gain of care by new care won.

The cares I give, I have, though given away.

They ‘tend the crown, yet still with me they stay. attendant upon

HENRY BOLINGBROKE

Are you contented to resign the crown?

KING RICHARD II

Ay, no. No, ay; for I must nothing be. yes Therefore no no, for I resign to thee.

Now mark me how I will undo myself. undress; unmake; ruin I give this heavy weight from off my head, crown; ‘heavy’=sad And this unwieldy sceptre from my hand,

The pride of kingly sway from out my heart.

With mine own tears I wash away my balm, consecrated oil used in coronations With mine own hands I give away my crown,

With mine own tongue deny my sacred state,

With mine own breath release all duteous oaths. release my subjects from allegiance

All pomp and majesty I do forswear.

My manors, rents, revenues I forego.

My acts, decrees, and statutes I deny.

God pardon all oaths that are made to me; that are made God keep all vows unbroke that swear to thee!

Make me, that nothing have, with nothing grieved, God make me And thou with all pleased, that hast all achieved.

Long mayst thou live in Richard's seat to sit,

And soon lie Richard in an earthly pit.

‘God save King Henry’, unkinged Richard says,

‘And send him many years of sunshine days.’

What more remains?



1. What are the important lines in the scene?

2. What does Richard II’s behavior signify?

3. The crown plays an important role in this scene,

both physically and psychologically. What staging

techniques might you use to high light this scene?

4. Re-write this scene and put it into a modern

context such as a school or sports setting.

Things to

Thing About!




BREATH OF KINGS – A Tale of Two “Fathers”: A look at Falstaff and

King Henry in Henry IV, Part 1

Overview

Students will compare and contrast two speeches from Henry IV Part 1 to glean clues about how

Prince Hal 's character is perceived by his friend and

his father.

Grade Level

7-12

Subject Area

English, Drama


Develop and explain

interpretations of text,

using evidence for

the text;

Analyse the text, focusing on the

ways they communicate

information, ideas, issues and

influence the listener's/viewer's

response;

Demonstrate understanding of the various

strategies Shakespeare

uses to create real and imagined tension.

Time Needed

1-2 class Periods

Space

Desks in groups,

then open

spaces for

exploring the text

Materials

Attached handout

of Activities



ACTIVITY

1. In groups of three, read the two criticisms of Hal: first

Falstaff impersonates King Henry and jokingly mocks Hal

and then King Henry proceeds to reprimand his son for

squandering his potential. Discuss any words or phrases that may be unfamiliar to you.

2. Have someone stand in the middle representing Prince

Hal listening to Falstaff and King

Henry on either side of him/her. Take it in turns reading the

various parts.

3. Notice how Falstaff speaks in prose and King Henry speaks in

blank verse or unrhymed poetry. Why is that

important? What does it tell you?

Prince Hal has been wasting his time partying and thieving with

the likes of Falstaff and his gang. Hal’s father, King Henry IV, is not

pleased with him.

DISCUSSION

1. What makes Falstaff such an appealing character?

DISCUSSION

2. What do you discover about Hal from both these men berating him?

EXTENSION

3. Improvise and/or write a cheeky response from Hal to Falstaff and a more sombre response to King Henry.



Act II, scene 4 (excerpt)

FALSTAFF

Harry, I do not only marvel where thou spendest thy

time, but also how thou art accompanied: for though

the camomile, the more it is trodden on the faster people believed if you stepped on the leaves they grew faster

it grows, yet youth, the more it is wasted the

sooner it wears. That thou art my son, I have

partly thy mother's word, partly my own opinion,

but chiefly a villanous trick of thine eye and a characteristic

foolish-hanging of thy nether lip, that doth warrant ridiculous, wanting in judgment

me. If then thou be son to me, here lies the point;

why, being son to me, art thou so pointed at? Shall

the blessed sun of heaven prove a micher and eat truant

blackberries? A question not to be asked. Shall

the sun of England prove a thief and take purses? A

question to be asked. There is a thing, Harry,

which thou hast often heard of and it is known to

many in our land by the name of pitch: this pitch, black tar-like substance; symbol for defilement

as ancient writers do report, doth defile; so doth

the company thou keepest: for, Harry, now I do not

speak to thee in drink but in tears, not in

pleasure but in passion, not in words only, but in

woes also.

Fat old Falstaff, a drinking buddy of Prince Hal, who spends his

days carousing in a tavern, suggests that he and Hal put on a

play – Falstaff will play King Henry and Hal will play himself.

Falstaff pretends to scold his "son," Prince Hal, for being a

thief and hanging out with low-life criminals like Falstaff.



Act III, scene 2 (excerpt)

KING HENRY IV

I know not whether God will have it so,

For some displeasing service I have done,

That, in his secret doom, out of my blood judgment / children

He'll breed revengement and a scourge for me; retribution; punishment / an instrument for punishment

But thou dost in thy passages of life your way of living

Make me believe that thou art only marked

For the hot vengeance and the rod of heaven

To punish my mistreadings. Tell me else, misdeeds, transgressions / if what I have said is true

Could such inordinate and low desires, disorderly

Such poor, such bare, such lewd, such mean attempts, vulgar / escapades

Such barren pleasures, rude society, uncivil, violent, barbarous

As thou art matched withal and grafted to, joined to ( Prince is alienating his own blood lineage

Accompany the greatness of thy blood

And hold their level with thy princely heart? be in an equal position with

………………………

God pardon thee! Yet let me wonder, Harry,

At thy affections, which do hold a wing inclinations

Quite from the flight of all thy ancestors. take a course quite different from that

Thy place in council thou hast rudely lost. Hal was expelled from the Privy Council for his rude behaviour

Which by thy younger brother is supplied,

And art almost an alien to the hearts thou art

Of all the court and princes of my blood:

The hope and expectation of thy time your hopeful and promising youth

Is ruined, and the soul of every man

Prophetically doth forethink thy fall.

An angry and disappointed King Henry tells his son, Prince Hal

(who is meant to be the next in line to the thrown), that Hal was

sent by God to punish Henry for his past sins. The king berates

Hal and accuses him of being a degenerate: Hal's been kicked

out of the Privy Council and replaced by his younger brother,

he's alienated himself from the court, he's disappointed

everyone and everybody thinks he's on a collision course to

disaster.




BREATH OF KINGS – A Look at Chorus in Henry V’s Prologue

Overview

Activity

Students will break into groups and study the Chorus' speech from Henry V Prologue to create a

choral piece with movement.

Grade Level

7-12

Subject Area

English, Drama


Identify the important

information and ideas in

the text, focusing on Shakespeare’

s clues for staging;

Analyse the text and

explain how they help

communicate meaning and

enhance effectiveness;

Use a variety of conventions

to develop character and

shape the action in

ensemble drama

presentations.

Time Needed

1-2 class

Periods

Space

Desks in groups,

then open

spaces for

exploring the text

Materials

Attached handout

of Activities



The CHORUS asks for inspiration to help present a play about two warring

nations (England and France) using the audience’s imagination to conjure huge battles on a

bare stage with only a few actors.

Break up into 8 groups; each group will be assigned a section. Study the words and discuss the

meaning with your group. Divide up the lines and speak chorally, adding movement with energy

and physicality. Be creative and feel free to use a variety of ways to deliver the lines.

# SECTIONS GLOSSARY

1

O for a Muse of fire, that would ascend

The brightest heaven of invention,

A kingdom for a stage, princes to act

And monarchs to behold the swelling scene!

-goddess of poetry, inspiration

-imagination

-growing/magnificent

2

Then should the warlike Harry, like himself,

Assume the port of Mars; and at his heels,

Leashed in like hounds, should famine, sword and fire

Crouch for employment.

-skilled in warfare

-appear like the god of war

3

But pardon, gentles all,

The flat unraisèd spirits that have dared

On this unworthy scaffold to bring forth

So great an object.

-ladies and gentlemen

-dull, lifeless

-stage

4

Can this cockpit hold

The vasty fields of France? Or may we cram

Within this wooden O the very casques

That did affright the air at Agincourt?

-circular arena / theatre

-vast

-the circular timber theatre / helmets

-frighten / English defeated the French

at the battle of Agincourt

5

O, pardon: since a crooked figure may

Attest in little place a million,

And let us, ciphers to this great accompt,

On your imaginary forces work.

-just as a tiny addition of 0 can turn

100,000 into 1,000,000, so a few actors

(ciphers or zeros) can portray thousands

of soldiers

-account, total/story

-imaginative

6

Suppose within the girdle of these walls

Are now confined two mighty monarchies,

Whose high uprearèd and abutting fronts

The perilous narrow ocean parts asunder.

-imagine within the circumference

-England and France

-raised up, erected / neighbouring,

adjoining / cliffs of Dover, Calais;

frontiers

-English Channel

7

Piece out our imperfections with your thoughts:

Into a thousand parts divide one man,

And make imaginary puissance.

-supplement

-power

8

Think when we talk of horses, that you see them

Printing their proud hoofs i' th’ receiving earth,

For 'tis your thoughts that now must deck our kings,

Carry them here and there, jumping o'er times,

Turning the accomplishment of many years

Into an hour-glass; for the which supply,

Admit me Chorus to this history;

Who prologue-like your humble patience pray,

Gently to hear, kindly to judge, our play.

-adorn, equip, clothe

-for the purpose of which

Henry V,

Prologue



DISCUSSION TOPICS FOR YOUR CLASS

For classes reading the play before seeing it:

1. What do you expect to see on stage at the Stratford Festival? Have each student

make a list of predictions about what they expect. Save these predictions. After your

Stratford trip, revisit them to see how they compared to the actual production.

2. How would you define power? Which characters in Breath of Kings do you think

has power?

3. Make a story map or a story board outlining the main events of the play. (This may

be used later in group activities.)

After your Stratford trip:

1. Is Henry IV a hero? Is Hal/Henry V a hero? Are there other characters in the play(s)

you would consider to be heroic or valiant?

2. What are the benefits of seeing a play in the round with little to no scenery?

Brainstorm why this type of configuration was used in Breath of Kings: Rebellion and

Breath of Kings: Redemption.

3. Create a character web showing how all the characters are connected to each

other. Discuss the complexity of these relationships and how they affect the

progression of the play.

For more classroom activities, complete with instructions, materials and Ontario curriculum

expectation links, visit stratfordfestival.ca/teachingmaterials.

You can also check out the following:

The Forum, a series of remarkable events to enrich the play-going experience:

www.stratfordfestival.ca/forum/ .

Stratford Festival’s YouTube channel for behind-the-scenes videos, photos and

interviews: www.youtube.com/user/stratfordfestival

Stratford Festival’s Flickr pages: www.flickr.com/photos/stratfest/

Stratford Festival Twitter: twitter.com/stratfest

Stratford Festival Facebook: www.facebook.com/StratfordFestival



http://www.stratfordfestival.ca/forum/default.aspx

http://www.youtube.com/user/stratfordfestival

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stratfest/

https://twitter.com/stratfest

https://www.facebook.com/StratfordFestival

Resources SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY for Breath of Kings: Rebellion & Redemption

SHAKESPEARE: HISTORY, CRITICISM and BIOGRAPHY:

Beckerman, Bernard. Shakespeare and the Globe, 1599-1609. 1962.

Bentley, G.E. Shakespeare: A Biographical Handbook. 1951.

Boyce, Charles. Shakespeare A to Z. 1990.

Brown, Ivor. Shakespeare and the Actors. 1970.

Brown, John Russell. Shakespeare and his Theatre.

Burgess, Anthony. Shakespeare. 1970.

Campbell, Oscar James, ed. The Reader’s Encyclopedia of Shakespeare. 1966.

Dobson, Michael, ed. The Oxford Companion to Shakespeare. 2001.

Epstein, Norrie. The Friendly Shakespeare. 1992.

Frye, R. M. Shakespeare’s Life and Times: a Pictorial Record. 1967.

Gurr, Andrew. The Shakespearean Stage, 1574-1642. 1980.

Hodges, C. Walter. Shakespeare and the Players. 1948.

Muir, Kenneth and Samuel Schoenbaum, eds. A New Companion to Shakespeare Studies, 1985.

Nagler, A. M. Shakespeare’s Stage. 1985.

Schoenbaum, Samuel. William Shakespeare: A Documentary Life. 1975.

Taylor, Gary. Reinventing Shakespeare. 1989.

Thomson, Peter. Shakespeare’s Theatre. 1983.

Tillyard, E. M. W. The Elizabethan World Picture. 1943.

Wells, Stanley, ed. The Cambridge Companion to Shakespeare Studies. 1986.

TEACHING SHAKESPEARE:

Asimov, Isaac. Asimov’s Guide to Shakespeare. New York, 1970.

Edens, Walter, et al. Teaching Shakespeare. New Jersey: Princeton UP, 1977.

Gibson, Rex. Secondary School Shakespeare. Cambridge: 1990.

O’Brien, Veronica. Teaching Shakespeare. London, 1982.

Stredder, James. The North Face of Shakespeare: Activities for Teaching the Plays. Cambridge: 2009.

SHAKESPEARE PLAYS and TEACHING MATERIALS:

Bate. Jonathan and Rasmussen (Eds.). The RSC Shakespeare. Modern Library/Penguin Random

House. 2009-2010.

Gibson, Rex. Teaching Shakespeare. 1998.

Gibson, Rex & Field-Pickering, Janet. Discovering Shakespeare’s Language. Cambridge: 1998.

Gossett, Suzanne (Ed.). Bloomsbury Arden Shakespeare. 2014.

WEB RESOURCES:

Mr. William Shakespeare and the Internet, shakespeare.palomar.edu

Sh:in:E Shakespeare in Europe, www.unibas.ch/shine



http://www.unibas.ch/shine

Feste: database of productions at the Royal Shakespeare Company and Shakespeare Memorial

Theatre, www.shakespeare.org.uk/content/view/339/339/

Encyclopaedia Britannica presents: Shakespeare and the Globe: Then and Now,

search.eb.com/Shakespeare

Shakespeare: Chill with Will, library.thinkquest.org/19539/saam.htm

Shakespeare’s Life and Times,

http://internetshakespeare.uvic.ca/Library/SLT/intro/index.html;jsessionid=C98135C1EB1A80

DC5EA15C527C3B0A6E

Shakespeare Online, www.shakespeare-online.com

Poor Yorick CD & Video Emporium, www.bardcentral.com

Movie Review Query Engline, www.mrqe.com

Internet Movie Database, www.imdb.com

Richard II, Henry IV Pt 1+2, Henry V ONLINE:

MIT Shakespeare: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare: http://shakespeare.mit.edu

BookRags.com Homepage: www.bookrags.com/studyguide-richardii/

www.bookrags.com/Henry_IV,_Part_1/

www.bookrags.com/Henry_IV,_Part_2/

www.bookrags.com/Henry_V_(play)/

SparkNotes: http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/richardii/

http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/henry4pt1/


http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/henryv/

The Literature Network: http://www.online-literature.com/shakespeare/

Richard II, Henry IV Pt 1+2, Henry V - ON FILM, VIDEO and DVD:

RICHARD II

1978 (Film-UK) King Richard the Second. Directed by David Giles, starring Derek Jacobi and John

Gielgud.

1997 (Film-UK) Richard II. Directed by Deborah Warner, starring Fiona Shaw and Graham Crowden.

2003 (BBC-UK) Richard II. Directed by Tom Carroll, starring Mark Rylance and John McEnery.

2012 (Film-UK) The Hollow Crown: Richard II. Directed by Rupert Goold and Starring Rory Kinnear, Ben

Wishaw and Patrick Stewart.

2013 (Film-UK) Richard II (RSC). Directed by Greg Doran, starring David Tennant and Michael

Pennington.

HENRY IV, Part 1

1979 (Film-UK) The First Part of King Henry the Fourth… Directed by David Giles, starring Jon Finch and

David Gwillim.

1990 (Film-UK) The War of the Roses: Henry IV, Part 1. Directed by Michael Bogdanov, starring Ben

Bazell and Roger Booth.

2012 (Film-UK) The Hollow Crown: Henry IV, Part 1. Directed by Richard Eyre, starring Tom Hiddleston

and Jeremy Irons.

2014 (Film-UK) Henry IV, Part 1 (RSC). Directed by Gregory Doran, starring Antony Sher and Alex

Hassell.

HENRY IV, Part 2

1979 (Film-UK) The Second Part of King Henry the Fourth… Directed by David Giles, starring Jon Finch



http://www.shakespeare.org.uk/content/view/339/339/

http://internetshakespeare.uvic.ca/Library/SLT/intro/index.html;jsessionid=C98135C1EB1A80DC5EA15C527C3B0A6E

http://internetshakespeare.uvic.ca/Library/SLT/intro/index.html;jsessionid=C98135C1EB1A80DC5EA15C527C3B0A6E

http://www.shakespeare-online.com/

http://www.bardcentral.com/

http://www.mrqe.com/

http://www.imdb.com/

http://shakespeare.mit.edu/

http://www.bookrags.com/studyguide-richardii/

http://www.bookrags.com/Henry_IV,_Part_1/

http://www.bookrags.com/Henry_IV,_Part_2/

http://www.bookrags.com/Henry_V_(play)/

http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/richardii/



http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/henryv/

http://www.online-literature.com/shakespeare/

and David Gwillim.

2010 (Video-UK) Shakespeare’s Globe: Henry IV, Part 2. Directed by Dominic Dromgoole, starring

Roger Allam and Jamie Parker.

2012 (Film-UK) The Hollow Crown: Henry IV, Part 2. Directed by Richard Eyre, starring Tom Hiddleston

and Jeremy Irons.

Henry V

1944 (Film-UK) The Chronicle History of King Henry the Fifth… Directed by Laurence Olivier, starring

Laurence Olivier, Robert Newton and Leslie Banks.

1989 (Film-UK) Henry V. Directed by Kenneth Branagh, starring Kenneth Branagh and Derek Jacobi.

2012 (Film-UK) The Hollow Crown: Henry V. Directed by Thea Sharrock, starring Tom Hiddleston,

Richard Griffiths and John Hurt.

STRATFORD HD – Stratford Festival’s Productions Now on Film!

Sun Life Financial

Presents the best of Shakespeare on Cinema Screens in Spectacular HD Premiering Worldwide at a Cinema Near You!


Hamlet

The Taming of the Shrew

The Adventures of Pericles

Jonathan Goad as Hamlet, Deborah Hay and Ben Carlson as Kate and Petruchio and Evan Buliung as Pericles.




2016 STUDY GUIDE Production Sponsor STUDY GUIDE Production Sponsor CORPORATE THEATRE PARTNER Sponsor...

Documents

Transcript of 2016 STUDY GUIDE Production Sponsor STUDY GUIDE Production Sponsor CORPORATE THEATRE PARTNER Sponsor...