Henry the Sixth

Henry the Sixth is the collective name sometimes found for a trilogy of plays by William Shakespeare (1564-1616)[1], some of it possibly in collaboration with Christopher Marlowe and Thomas Nash.

The original text

Based on the life of Henry VI of England (1421-1471)[2], it was one of a trilogy of plays written circa 1590/1591.

The trilogy (not necessarily written in this order) consists of:

Henry VI, Part 1[3],

Henry VI, Part 2[4]

Henry VI, Part 3[5].

They are also found as 1 Henry VI, 2 Henry VI and 3 Henry VI.

Often a performance would simply be referred to as Henry VI of Henry the Sixth without specifying the particular play.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1861: The first act of of "Shakespeare's Splendid Tragedy" Henry the Sixth was advertised for performance in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town, on 16 December by a company led by Mrs Henderson and Mr Lamb, the latter playing "Gloster" (i.e. "Gloucester"). Also performed were The Eddystone Elf (Pitt), some variéte acts and a "Pantomimic Sketch full of Hits and Skits on Cape Publicities and Peculiarities" (cited by Bosman, 1980, p. 130, from the Cape Argus of 12 December, 1861).

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_VI_of_England#Shakespeare's_Henry_VI_and_after

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_VI,_Part_1

D.C. Boonzaier, 1923. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage", in SA Review, 9 March and 24 August 1932. (Reprinted in Bosman 1980: pp. 374-439.)

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: p.133

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