Henry V

Henry V is a history play by William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616)[1]

The original text

The final part of series of four history plays by Shakespeare (with Richard II, Henry IV - parts 1 and 2) , it is believed to have been written in approximately 1599, and is popularly supposed to have been the first play performed at the new Globe Theatre in the spring of 1599 (but this is uncertain). The play was originally entitled The Chronicle History of Henry the Fifth (the First Quarto) and later The Life of Henry the Fifth (the First Folio), but is today best known by the shortened title.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1853: Selections from Henry V performed by the Port Elizabeth Amateurs in the "new Theatre" on 22 October , with as An Unwarrantable Intrusion (Morton) and The Spare Bed (Cooper).

1970: Act Four of the play presented as A Little Touch of Harry in the Night by the Grey College Dramatic Society in Bloemfontein, adapted and directed by Temple Hauptfleisch, and featuring Otto Bohlman in the role of Henry.

1971: Presented by the University of Cape Town’s Speech and Drama Department at the Little Theatre in April, directed by Mavis Taylor and starring Christopher Prophet, Bill Flynn, Peter Krummeck, David Lan, Denis Bettesworth, Stefan Bubenzer, Vincent Ebrahim, Marko van der Colff, Icky Kurgan, John Caviggia, Barry Davies, Rob Davies, Rob Barbour, Alistair MacArthur, Terry Harrison, Alex Potter, Pieter Marais, Blaise Koch, Sandy Friedlander, Vicki Hertz, Roshel Malbin, Maralin Vanrenen and Adrienne Murcott. Designs by Peter Krummeck, original music composed by Michael Tuffin, lighting by Pip Marshall.