Henry the Sixth

Henry VI 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 "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). Given the fact that "Gloucester" is a character in the play, the text used was probably either 1 Henry VI or 2 Henry VI.

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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