Henry IV, Part 1

Henry IV, Part 1 is a history play by William Shakespeare (1564–1616)[1].

The original text

Believed to have been written circa 1597 and probably performed that year. The play was entered into the Register of the Stationers Company on 25 February 1598, and first printed in quarto later that year by Andrew Wise.

Translations and adaptations

Translated into Afrikaans as Hendrik IV by *

Translated into Setswana as Kgosi Henry wa Bone (1952) by M.O.M. Seboni.

Translated into Northern Sotho as Kgosi Henri IV (1973) by N.C. Phatudi

Performance history in South Africa

1801: Performed by the Garrison Players as the opening piece of the new theatre, The African Theatre, in Cape Town. It also contained an address to Apollo, written by Mrs Somers and spoken by Dr Somers, who also played "Fallstaff", while Mr Cockburn painted the scenery. Apparently it ran for a week, even though Lady Anne Barnard called it a "dull play" in her correspondence.