Henry V

Bell Shakespeare's Henry V is an astonishingly clever, amazingly tight production that highlights the importance of this less frequently performed Shakespeare play.

The season at Perth's Heath Ledger Theatre, in the State Theatre Centre of Western Australia, is part of a thirty-two stop Australian tour that will wind-up at the Sydney Opera House in November.

This production does so much well that it is difficult to condense highlights into what is supposed to be a short review. Set in a British school room during World War II, as an air raid takes-place, the battles outside coincide with the battles of the play. As the enthusiastic students of Shakespeare enact the story, elements of the events outside merge seamlessly into the play, with wonderful impact. The classroom atmosphere also allows us to see how Henry V fits historically and into the chronicles of Shakespeare's work.

Director Damien Ryan and Designer Anna Gardiner must have lived inside each other's heads as this is a beautiful merging of direction and design, as elements of the dilapidated, bomb-damaged classroom are shifted organically to become different locations. Costuming transforms with similar natural, seemingly improvised ease. Sian James Holland's lighting design is complex for a touring production and is outstandingly emotive, while Steve Francis' composition and sound design is disarmingly evocative. Movement in this piece is perfectly precise under the direction of Steve Witt.

As stated in the programme, a Henry V touring production of this type, with a cast of ten, would have been inconceivable twenty years ago. While its success is indubitably due to the creativity of Damien Ryan's approach, it is also a credit to the actors who all convincingly play numerous characters while maintaining a play within a play.

While all ten actors are superb, particularly memorable performances include Keith Agius' teacher/mentor role, Michael Sleasby's rugby shirted Henry V, Eloise Winestock's petulant Katherine and Darcy Brown's unfortunate Le Fer.

This is a superb production. It is dynamic, interesting and fascinating and really easy to follow. Almost a love letter to Shakespeare, it shows the joy of performing Shakespeare's words and brings them to life in a unique, intriguing way.

At the time of writing, Henry V is still to visit Geraldton and Mandurah in Western Australia and regional centres and capital cities in the Northern Territory, Victoria, Tasmania, Queensland and New South Wales.

Kimberley Shaw

Photographer: Michele Mossop.

More Reading.

Coral Drouyn's review of the Melbourne season.