The Stage

Henry V

Published Tuesday 11 September 2007 at 11:00 by Natalie Anglesey

As a political propagandist, Shakespeare scores full marks in this, perhaps the most popular of all his history plays.

But it still remains a challenge both for the leading actor and the director to breathe fresh life into such a well-known work, particularly when it’s staged in the round.

Elliot Cowan follows in prestigious footsteps to play the title role. Looking rather like Prince William, he appears initially as a nervous young boy in an uncomfortable suit, however, during the battle scenes, he matures before our eyes into a man. He is fortunate to be supported by a strong cast led by the excellent David Collings.

Director Jonathan Munby gets it right by injecting humour into the boring bits and providing terrific battle scenes which make for a totally accessible production. The contemporary setting, with the soldiers dressed in realistic battle dress, make the modern parallels absolutely clear

From Mike Britton’s grid-iron, convex floor, a steeply sloping ramp dramatically emerges for the exciting battle charge with canons belching smoke, explosions lighting the sky and the rumble of war never far away. A metallic bridge rises up through pouring rain, under which soldiers wade through water, providing even more striking visual images.

If sometimes it’s a triumph of effects over the speaking of the text and the noticeable loss of accents, the overwhelming spectacle of this fast-paced, thrilling production carries the day. It may be flawed but it is bravely done.