Royal Shakespeare Company artistic director Gregory Doran will continue his exploration of Shakespeare’s history plays when he directs Henry V which will open in Stratford before transferring to London’s Barbican.
Alex Hassell, who was Prince Hal in both productions of Henry IV and took the role of Biff Loman in Doran’s production of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, will play King Henry.
Doran’s history tetralogy will culminate in January 2016 at the Barbican in London with a major event marking the start of the 400th anniversary year of Shakespeare’s death. King and Country will be a season of Richard II, Henry IV Parts I and II and Henry V playing in repertoire.
After the Barbican season, Henry IV Parts I and II and Henry V will tour to China and will be re-joined by Richard II in spring 2016 for a season in the US at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM).
The full cast for Henry V is: Daniel Abbott (Gloucester / Monsieur le Fer), Martin Bassindale (boy), Antony Byrne (Pistol), Sean Chapman (Exeter), Oliver Ford Davies (Chorus), Nicholas Gerard-Martin (Orleans / Bishop of Ely), Robert Gilbert (Dauphin), Alex Hassell (Henry V), Jim Hooper (Canterbury / Erpingham), Jennifer Kirby (Katherine), Jane Lapotaire (Queen Isobel), Sam Marks (Constable of France), Dale Mathurin (Bates / Bedford), Chris Middleton (Nym / Warwick / Governor of Harfleur), Evelyn Miller (Rambures / lady-in-waiting), Keith Osborn (Montjoy / Scroop), Sarah Parks (Mistress Quickly), Leigh Quinn (Alice), Joshua Richards (Bardolph / Fluellen), Simon Thorp (King of France), Obioma Ugoala (Grey / Gower), Andrew Westfield (Westmoreland / MacMorris) and Simon Yadoo (Cambridge / Williams / Jamy).
The Henry V Company will perform across all four plays of the King and Country cycle and will be joined by David Tennant (Richard II), Julian Glover (John of Gaunt), Jasper Britton (Bolingbroke / Henry IV), Matthew Needham (Harry Percy / Hotspur / Mowbray) and Emma King (lady-in-waiting / Lady Mortimer / Doll Tearsheet).
The productions will be designed by Stephen Brimson Lewis with lighting by Tim Mitchell. The music will be composed by Paul Englishby with sound by Martin Slavin. Movement director will be Mike Ashcroft and the fight director will be Terry King.
Henry V will run in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford from Saturday 12 September until Sunday 25 October. Press night will be on Tuesday 22 September. The production will be broadcast live from Stratford to cinemas on 21 October.