Barn Theatre, Cirencester – until 22 June 2019
Reviewed by Catherine Françoise
5*****
It’s always a pleasure to visit the Barn Theatre in Cirencester, always guaranteed to see high quality, intelligent, innovative theatre whatever genre. Artistic Director Iwan Lewis and his fantastic creative team have created something very special here in just over a year, justifiably winning The Stage, Fringe Theatre of the Year 2019. Their 2019 season continues with bold choices and surprises and they can certainly never be accused of simply ‘playing safe, particularly in choosing to produce Shakespeare’s Henry V with a cast of just 8! Director Hal Chambers boldly chooses to place the young, recently crowned King of England in a contemporary setting with large screen projections making sure the audience are in no doubt of place or situation. Fast-paced, full of energy and creativity, his brilliant 8 strong cast play more than 40 roles inventively and quite brilliantly. A stark bare scaffolded stage set is transformed throughout by Sam Rowcliffe-Tanner’s clever lighting and strobe effects supported by evocative atmospheric original music written by Harry Smith.
Aaron Sidwell is a charismatic Henry, taking us on a journey from a young man reluctant to bear the responsibility of monarchy, partying and drinking in an attempt to distract from the weight of this inevitability. We, and he, discover that he is in fact focused and fearless once committed to a course of action. Once Henry has resolved to conquer France, he pursues his goal relentlessly to the end. He finishes the play as a brilliant leader and orator, a King fully committed to his position and the responsibilities of Kingship. The journey raises questions about nationality, nationalism, pride, character, resolve and determination.
Christos Dante’s exciting choreographed fight scenes propel the audience into the heat of the battles of Harfleaur and Agincourt and Kate Webster’s Movement Direction, particularly during the battle scenes, is dramatic and brilliant. Lauren Samuels is a modern Princess Katharine with plenty of spirit and an authentic French accent, though even with a Queen of France (played by Sarah Waddel) rather than a King, offering her daughter to Henry as a gift after war slightly jars in a contemporary setting. They make the best of it but it’s not fully credible. C’est la vie. I very much enjoyed and appreciated the myriad of supporting roles played by the whole cast Aaron Sidwell, Adam Sopp, Alicia Charles, Elin Phillips, Jonathan Woolf and Matt Ray Brown, Lauren Samuels and Sarah Waddell, all playing quite different characters to their main roles ~ character transformations sometimes happening within seconds. And all very different and authentic ~ Highly commendable indeed.
Where the Barn have triumphed with this production is that although contemporary, it is still very much ‘Shakespeare’ so unlikely to alienate those who love the traditional historical setting. I hope schools take advantage of this superb opportunity to see Shakespeare in a contemporary, relevant, exciting light ~ I can’t imagine school students (or indeed anyone!) leaving after seeing this production of Henry V, with anything other than a desire to see more ‘exciting’ Shakespeare! Lucky them and lucky us ~ Get your tickets which you can!