Playing in repertory with Goblin:Macbeth on the Howard Family Stage, Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival presents Lois Anderson’s reimagination of Henry VÂ in which a travelling theatre troupe performs Shakespeare’s history play.
The tale of a war-torn land and of young King Hal, whom destiny has cast as a leader and manipulated by false advisors, he plunges two nations into war, posing timeless questions about the moral cost of war and whether love and hope might turn the tide, both in Henry’s world and for us today.
“For me, the challenge of directing a work that focuses primarily on war was to find the humanity and love in this story,” says director Lois Anderson. “We see that war is a perpetual reality in the history of humankind, just as love is. With a focus on loyalty, friendship and community, we are reshaping the narrative of this war tale. In an installation-like environment, we have an imaginative troupe celebrating, through creative storytelling, the internal growth of the person who will become King Henry V.”
In this edition of Before The Curtain Goes Up, Vancouver Presents contributor David C Jones speaks with Lois Anderson to learn more.
Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival presents Henry V in repertory with Goblin:Macbeth on the Howard Family Stage in Sen̓áḵw/Vanier Park from June 28 to August 13. Visit bardonthebeach.org for tickets and information.