Download 2016 study guide - Stratford Festival

2016 STUDY GUIDE
Production Sponsor
2016 STUDY GUIDE
EDUCATION PROGRAM PARTNER
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
TO O L S F O R T E ACHE RS
sponsored by
P RO DU CT IO N S U PPO RT
is generously provided by
The Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation and by Martie & Bob Sachs
INDIVIDUAL T HE AT RE S PO N S O RS
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
Support for the 2016
season of the Studio
Theatre is generously
provided by
Sandra & Jim Pitblado
CORPO RAT E T HE AT RE PART N E R
Sponsor for the 2016 season of the Tom Patterson Theatre
Cover: From left: Graham Abbey, Tom Rooney, Araya Mengesha, Geraint Wyn Davies.. Photography by Don Dixon.
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
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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 moderndress 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
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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.
Birmingham Conservatory for Classical
Theatre.
Stratford Festival performances take place
in four distinct stages:
Festival Theatre
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.
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
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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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ABOUT Breath of Kings
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
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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.
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ABOUT Breath of Kings
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.
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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.
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ABOUT Breath of Kings
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.
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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.
1965: Festival Theatre. Directed by Stuart Burge and designed by Desmond Heeley. The
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)
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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
1965: Festival Theatre. Directed by Stuart Burge and designed by Desmond Heeley. The
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.
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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
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12
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 coordinator, 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
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Richard II – Breath of Kings – Rebellion (a)
Edward III
5th son / Edmund
of Langley, Duke of
York
1st son / Edward
(The Black Prince)
married
Duchess of York
4th son / John of
Gaunt, Duke of
Lancaster
son
6th son / Thomas
of Woodstock ,
Duke of
Gloucester
married
Duchess of Gloucester
son
son
Queen Isabel - married - RICHARD II
Supporters
Edward, Earl of Rutland, Duke of Aumerle
Abbot of Westminster
Bishop of Carlisle
Sir Stephen Scroop
Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk
Duke of Surrey
Earl of Salisbury
Lord Berkeley
Bushy / Bagot / Green
Breath of Kings - Rebellion/Redemption
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HENRY BOLINGBROKE , later KING HENRY IV
Supporters
Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland
Lord Fitzwater
Harry Percy (Hotspur) his son
Sir Pierce of Exton
Lord Ross
Lord Willoughby
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Associates of Prince Hal
Sir John Falstaff
Henry IV, Part 1 – Breath of Kings – Rebellion (b)
THE KING’S PARTY
Prince Hal
(Henry) his son
King Henry IV
Sir John’s Companions:
Hostess, Mistress Nell Quickly
Peto
Bardolph
Poins
Francis
Vintner
Gadshill
Lord John of
Lancaster, his son
THE REBELS
Henry Percy, Earl
of
Northumberland
SUPPORTERS
Earl of Westmorland
Sir Water Blunt
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Richard Scrope,
Archbishop of
York
His brother
Thomas Percy,
Earl of Worcester
Owen Glendower,
father of Lady
Mortimer
Harry - Hotspur,
Northumberland's
son
Lady Mortimer,
married to
Edmund
Kate, Lady Percy,
married to
Hotspur
Lord Edmund
Mortimer,
brother to Kate
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Sir Michael
Sir Richard
Vernon
Earl of Douglas
15
Henry IV, Part 2 – Breath of Kings – Redemption (a)
FALSTAFF, HIS COMPANIONS AND OTHER CITIZENS
Henry IV
Prince Henry, later
King Henry V
•Peto
•Bardolph
•Poins
•Pistol
•Doll Tearsheet
•Hostess, Mistress Nell Quickly
•Will
•Drawer
•Francis
Sir John Falstaff
Prince John of
Lancaster
Humphrey, Duke
of Gloucester
The Law
•Robert Shallow
•Silence
•Davy
Thomas, Duke of
Clarence
SUPPORTERS OF THE KING
Country Soldiers
THE REBELS
Sir John Blunt
Earl of Westmorland
Earl of Surrey
Earl of Warwick
Harcourt
Lord Chief Justice
Lady
Northumberland,
his wife
Sir John Coleville
Archbishop of
York
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Lady Percy, her daughter-inlaw / widow of Harry
Hotspur
Earl of
Northumberland
Lord Bardolph
Lord
Mowbray
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2016 Study Guide
•Ralph Mouldy
•Peter Bullcalf
•Francis Feeble
•Thomas Wart
•Simon
Shadow
Lord Hastings
16
Henry V – Breath of Kings – Redemption (b)
Chorus
THE ENGLISH COURT
THE FRENCH COURT
Duke of
Exeter
Duke of York
Charles VI, King
of France
Katheriine, their
daughter, later
marries Henry V
Earl of
Westmorland
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
Earl of
Huntingdon
King Henry V
Henry IV
(deceased)
Earl of
Warwick
Duke of
Bedford
Duke of
Gloucester
Duke of
Clarence
Earl of
Salisbury
Archibishop of
Canterbury
Bishop Ely
The English Army –
Officers
Sir Thomas Erpingham
Captain Fluellen
Captain Gower
Captain Jamy
Captain MacMorris
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Queen Isabel, his
wife
Lewis, the
Dauphin, their
son
Conspirators
Richard, Earl of Cambridge
Sir Thomas Grey
Henry, Lord Scroop
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)
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The English Monarchs of the Histories
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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.
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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
Director
Weyni Mengesha (Rebellion)
Mitchell Cushman (Redemption)
Set Designer
Costume Designer
Lighting Designer
Composer & Sound Designer
Fight Director
Associate Director
Anahita Dehbonehie
Yannik Larivée
Kimberly Purtell
Debashis Sinha
John Stead
Graham Abbey
Cast
Graham Abbey
Wayne Best
Shane Carty
Mikaela Davies
Michelle Giroux
Sébastien Heins
Kate Hennig
Randy Hughson
Claire Lautier
Araya Mengesha
Gordon S.Miller
Tom Rooney
Anusree Roy
Stephen Russell
Jonathan Sousa
Carly Street
Nigel Shawn Williams
Geraint Wyn Davies
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2016 Study Guide
Bolingbroke/Henry IV
Worcester, Duke of Gloucester, King of France
Bagot, Duke of Orleans
Katherine
Doll Tearsheet
Aumerle, John of Lancaster
Mistress Quickly, Gower
Duke of York, Pistol
Lady Mortimer
Prince Hal/Henry V
Poins, Mortimer, Exton, Davy
Richard II, Chorus
Duchess of York, Alice
Gaunt
Hotspur
Lady Percy, Mowbray, Archbishop of York
Northumberland, Exeter
Falstaff, Fluellen, Old Gardener
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Imaginative Ways to Approach the Text
BREATH OF KINGS – Richard II’s Abdication - Richard II, Act IV, scene 1
OVERVIEW
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.
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;
Breath of Kings - Rebellion/Redemption
2016 Study Guide
Analyse texts,
examining
how various
aspects of the
text
contribute to
the
presentation;
Stratford Festival
Identify and
use a variety
of techniques
or methods
to develop a
character.
Time
Needed
Space
Materials
1-2
class
Periods
Desks in
groups,
then
open
spaces
for
exploring
the text
Attached
handouts
of
Activities
21
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! 
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,
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.
owns
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
I thought you had been willing to resign.
KING RICHARD II
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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.
My care is loss of care by old care done;
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.
wordplay on care = grief / responsibility
diligence / anxiety
attendant upon
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
Are you contented to resign the crown?
KING RICHARD II
Ay, no. No, ay; for I must nothing be.
Therefore no no, for I resign to thee.
Now mark me how I will undo myself.
I give this heavy weight from off my head,
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,
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.
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;
God keep all vows unbroke that swear to thee!
Make me, that nothing have, with nothing grieved,
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?
Breath of Kings - Rebellion/Redemption
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yes
undress; unmake; ruin
crown; ‘heavy’=sad
consecrated oil used in coronations
release my subjects from allegiance
that are made
God make me
23
Things to
Thing About!
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.
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Imaginative Ways to Approach the Text
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
Curriculum Expectations and Learning
Outcome
Develop and
explain
interpretation
s of text,
using
evidence for
the text;
Breath of Kings - Rebellion/Redemption
2016 Study Guide
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.
Stratford Festival
Time
Needed
Space
Material
s
1-2 class
Periods
Desks in
groups,
then
open
spaces
for
exploring
the text
Attached
handout
of
Activities
25
ACTIVITY
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.
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?
DISCUSSION
DISCUSSION
1. What makes
EXTENSION
Falstaff such an
2. What do you
appealing character? discover about Hal
3. Improvise and/or
from both these men write a cheeky
berating him?
response from Hal to
Falstaff and a more
sombre response to
King Henry.
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2016 Study Guide
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26
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 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.
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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.
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.
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Imaginative Ways to Approach the Text
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
Curriculum Expectations and Learning
Outcome
Identify the
important
information
and ideas in
the text,
focusing on
Shakespeare’
s clues for
staging;
Breath of Kings - Rebellion/Redemption
2016 Study Guide
Analyse the
text and
explain how
they help
communicate
meaning and
enhance
effectiveness;
Stratford Festival
Use a variety
of conventions
to develop
character and
shape the
action in
ensemble
drama
presentations.
Time
Needed
Space
Materials
1-2
class
Periods
Desks in
groups,
then
open
spaces
for
exploring
the text
Attached
handout
of
Activities
29
Henry V,
Prologue
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
O for a Muse of fire, that would ascend
The brightest heaven of invention,
1 A kingdom for a stage, princes to act
And monarchs to behold the swelling scene!
GLOSSARY
#
-goddess of poetry, inspiration
-imagination
-growing/magnificent
Then should the warlike Harry, like himself,
Assume the port of Mars; and at his heels,
2 Leashed in like hounds, should famine, sword and fire
Crouch for employment.
-skilled in warfare
-appear like the god of war
But pardon, gentles all,
The flat unraisèd spirits that have dared
3 On this unworthy scaffold to bring forth
So great an object.
-ladies and gentlemen
-dull, lifeless
-stage
Can this cockpit hold
The vasty fields of France? Or may we cram
4 Within this wooden O the very casques
That did affright the air at Agincourt?
-circular arena / theatre
-vast
-the circular timber theatre / helmets
O, pardon: since a crooked figure may
Attest in little place a million,
5 And let us, ciphers to this great accompt,
On your imaginary forces work.
-frighten / English defeated the French
at the battle of Agincourt
-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
Suppose within the girdle of these walls
Are now confined two mighty monarchies,
6 Whose high uprearèd and abutting fronts
The perilous narrow ocean parts asunder.
-imagine within the circumference
Piece out our imperfections with your thoughts:
Into a thousand parts divide one man,
7 And make imaginary puissance.
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,
8 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.
-supplement
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-England and France
-raised up, erected / neighbouring,
adjoining / cliffs of Dover, Calais;
frontiers
-English Channel
-power
-adorn, equip, clothe
-for the purpose of which
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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
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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
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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/henry4pt2/
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
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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!
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.
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Stratford Festival
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