The First of King Henry VI

English · 2h 54m · Drama

The fates of a war-torn France and an England faded of its past glory hang in the balance in this first installment of William Shakespeare’s riveting Wars of the Roses tetralogy. Following the untimely death of King Henry V, lofty ambitions and heated rivalries come the fore in the English court as various members of the nobility vie for power and favour before the coronation of the late king’s young and callow son.

Meanwhile, the new monarch’s ascension to the throne is further complicated by the English army’s territorial losses in France. Despite the valiant efforts of the noble Lord Talbot, who fights fiercely to defend England’s claims, the arrival of the mysterious maiden Joan la Pucelle (who we now know today as Joan of Arc) on the French side signals a drastic tidal shift. Before long, Joan’s determination and passion in battle inspire the French to resist against their invaders, while the simmering tensions and splintered factions back in England weaken the country’s hold in the geopolitical sphere, opening the door for further discord and treachery in the plays to follow.

Filled with stirring speeches, vivid characters and memorable battle scenes, this gripping opening chapter of Shakespeare’s original tetralogy invites audiences into a sweeping saga of power, patriotism and the human cost of war.

And to perform it all? Three men (Craig Franklin, Tomas Peter, and Brad “Hamlet” Filippone) and three women (Sonia, Jenn Broda, and Kelly S. Taylor), determined to give you a performance of Shakespeare's work that you will never forget. You thought you knew your Shakespeare? Well, think again! - Summary by Tomas Peter

Cast List:

Jenn Broda: Narrator; Duke of Gloucester; Duke of Alençon; Sir William Lucy; Countess of Auvergne; Boy; Lawyer; First Gaoler; French Soldier; Servant to Talbot.
Sonia: Joan la Pucelle; Bishop/Cardinal of Winchester; Vernon; Earl of Salisbury; Third Serving-man to Gloucester; Second Messenger to the English Court; Second Warder; First French Sentinel; Messenger to the Countess of Auvergne; Messenger to York.
Craig Franklin: King Henry VI; Lord Talbot; Bastard of Orleans; Old Shepherd; First Messenger to the English Court; First Warder; Officer to the Mayor of London; Second French Sentinel.
Kelly S. Taylor: Charles; Duke of Bedford; Earl/Duke of Somerset; Margaret; First Serving-man to Gloucester; Master-Gunner of Orleans; Messenger to Talbot; French General; Porter; Papal Legate.
Tomas Peter: Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York; Reignier; Earl of Warwick; John Talbot; English Captain; Second Serving-man to Gloucester; Woodvile; Sir William Glansdale; Third Messenger to the English Court; French Sergeant; French Watchman; French Scout.
Brad “Hamlet” Filippone: Earl of Suffolk; Duke of Burgundy; Duke of Exeter; Mayor of London; Basset; Sir John Fastolfe; Edmund Mortimer; Sir Thomas Gargrave; English Soldier.