JK Kazzi stands over fellow actors in rehearsals for HENRY 5
Join us for a gallop along the twists and turns of Shakespeare’s Henry 5. Compiled by Andy McLean.
Speed read
The story of Henry 5 in five simple steps
- Fait accompli: Egged on by the Church and insulted by a petty French jibe, the English King Henry decides it is his God-given right to invade France. Before he sets sail, Henry foils an insider plot to topple him and sentences the traitors to death.
- En route: Once in France, the English army wages war and – stirred by Henry’s powerful words – gains territory. They lay siege to the town of Harfleur, which surrenders after Henry issues an ultimatum laced with chilling, bloodthirsty threats.
- RSVP: As the English march further into France, the war of words escalates between the royal leaders on each side, via a series of messages. While the French prince (aka Dauphin) remains supremely confident of victory, his sister Princess Katherine is hedging her bets by learning to speak English.
- Coup de grace: The English army reaches Azincourt, exhausted and massively outnumbered by the French. The night before the battle, a disguised Henry hears his soldiers’ fears and moral concerns. Next morning, Henry delivers a rousing speech that inspires his forces to an unlikely military victory, during which he orders the slaughter of French prisoners. Afterwards, English casualties are reported to be miraculously few compared with the French.
- Vis-à-vis: Months later, Henry agrees to peace with France so long as his terms are met, which include him being heir to the French throne and marrying Katherine. Through an interpreter, Henry attempts to persuade Katherine of his sincere love. Fleetingly, it appears that England and France could be united in harmony after all, but an epilogue explains that within a generation more bloodshed split the nations apart again.
Meet the troops
Chorus
At the beginning of each Act, a succession of eyewitnesses (aka Chorus) set the scene and share their versions of events.
England’s Happy (And Unhappy) Few
King Henry 5 (aka Harry, aka Hal) The English ruler is a military mastermind and a master of spin. Courageous, charismatic, but also cold-blooded, Henry will stop at nothing to conquer France.
Canterbury Spiritual leader of the English Church. Also, a skilled bureaucrat, politician, and historian. Henry draws on these talents to help justify the invasion of France.
Exeter Henry’s cousin and sidekick enthusiastically joins the English invasion.
Westmoreland Aristocrat who is loyal to Henry and fights alongside him.
Grey and Scroop Noblemen who have secretly been bribed by the French to kill Henry.
Michael Williams One of several (understandably) jaded rank-and-file soldiers.
Les Français
King Charles The sage King of France understands the threat that Henry poses and would prefer to bargain his way out of war, if possible. But if push comes to shove, he’s prepared to fight.
Dauphin Flamboyant and self-possessed, the French prince is heir to the throne and believes his nation’s army is far superior to England’s. Taunts Henry with a gift of tennis balls, to imply the King of England is a harmless playboy.
Montjoy French ambassador who conveys messages between the French and English rulers. His knack for diplomacy is tested to the limits as he relays incendiary threats to both sides.
Katherine The young Princess of France sees the writing on the wall – she’s going to be married off to Henry as a prize of war – so she starts brushing up on her English.
Alice Katherine’s loyal lady-in-waiting and companion who, haphazardly, attempts to teach the princess how to speak English.
JK Kazzi stands over fellow actors in rehearsals for HENRY 5
5 HOT TAKES
Actors, directors and scholars find Henry 5 an enduringly fascinating play. Here’s what a few of today’s luminaries make of it.
[On the Chorus’ prologue at the start of the play] “This speech, for me, is such a wonderful kind of invocation of the relationship that has to be at play when theatre is happening. [The Chorus] leans across that fourth wall and says to the audience, ‘Come and join in, you're part of this whole experience’.”
Darren Gilshenan, actor and director (hear more from Darren in season 1 episode 11 of Bell Shakespeare’s Speak The Speech podcast)
“So was Henry Shakespeare’s ideal king? It’s hard to say. Shakespeare seemed fascinated and repelled by him at the same time. He’s undoubtedly effective… [but also brutal and] …without that cold-blooded pragmatism how do you rule effectively? This is the question Shakespeare poses over and over.”
John Bell AO OBE, Founding Artistic Director of Bell Shakespeare
“The juxtaposition of opposing viewpoints is a common and fascinating feature of the play. Opposing patriotic sentiment with cynicism makes it very modern: blood-tingling rhetoric and noble endeavour beside grasping self-interest and ruthless exploitation.”
Sir Gregory Doran, former Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company
“It isn’t a pro-war play or an anti-war play, but a going-to-war play.”
Professor James Shapiro, author of 1599: A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare
[On the play’s final scene where Henry attempts to woo Katherine] “It’s too easy to dismiss Katherine as a docile wallflower with no volition. But I think she often has the upper hand in this scene and occasionally plays games [with Henry]…”
Dame Judi Dench, legendary Shakespearean actor
QUOTE UNQUOTE
From start to finish, Henry deploys his words like weapons to get whatever he wants. Here’s just a few of his killer lines:
Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more,
Or close the wall up with our English dead!
(Act 3 Scene 1)
The game's afoot.
Follow your spirit, and upon this charge
Cry ‘God for Harry, England, and Saint George!’
(Act 3 Scene 1)
I think the King is but a man, as I am. The violet smells to him as it doth to me.
(Act 4 Scene 1)
Every subject’s duty is the King’s, but every subject’s soul is his own.
(Act 4 Scene 1)
This day is called the feast of Crispian.
He that outlives this day and comes safe home,
Will stand a-tiptoe when this day is named…
This story shall the good man teach his son,
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered –
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he today that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother.
(Act 4 Scene 3)
FIVE FAST FACTS
- Back to the future: Legend has it that this play opened the original Globe playhouse in London in 1599. Four centuries later, at the opening of London’s new Globe, the Chorus prologue was performed by Zoe Wanamakeras as a tribute to her late father, Sam, the visionary behind the theatre’s recreation.
- It’s a date: In Bell Shakespeare’s 2025 production, scenes often open with a date flashing up on screen. Many of these correlate with real-life moments in the actual life of Henry V, including the English army sailing to France in August 1415, the town surrender at Harfleur on 22 September 1415, and the battle of Azincourt on 25 October 1415.
- Acting royalty: King Henry is a dream role for actors. Overseas, Henrys have included Richard Burton, Michael Sheen and Timothée Chalamet. Bell Shakespeare’s Henrys have included Joel Edgerton, Michael Sheasby, and our newest recruit JK Kazzi.
- Impossible n’est pas français: In Bell Shakespeare’s 2025 production, French is spoken in many scenes (with surtitles on screen). While many of the cast were already fluent in the language before rehearsals began, others had some learning or brushing up to do!
- Fact and fiction: History is written by the winners so we should be cautious about an English play written about an English military victory. That said, many details in Shakespeare’s script are authenticated by contemporary sources, including the Dauphin’s tennis-ball taunt, the plot to depose Henry as he prepared to sail for France, and Henry ordering the killing of prisoners at Azincourt.
