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Henry IV - Part II

Henry IV, Part II follows King Henry IV’s victory at the battle of Shrewsbury. But the King’s health is failing, leaving his youngest son, Prince John, to fight the rebels while Prince Hal prepares himself to take the throne. Meanwhile, Hal’s friend, Sir John Falstaff, stirs up trouble in the kingdom.

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At a Glance

War • English Royalty • Family • Politics

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Productions, Readings & Workshops

Henriad Plays Reading

April 20 – 30, 2023 | Shakespeare Dallas | Readings | Dallas, TX, USA

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Henry IV - Part 2

By William Shakespeare
Translation by Jeffrey Whitty

The two-part tale of King Henry IV, rewritten with new language for the twenty-first century.

Shakespeare’s two Henry IV plays follow the exploits of King Henry IV after usurping the crown from his cousin Richard II. Featuring some of Shakespeare’s most recognizable characters such as Prince Hal and the roguish Sir John Falstaff, Henry IV, Part 1 delves into complicated questions of loyalty and kingship on and off the battlefield. Henry IV, Part 2 follows Prince Hal as he grapples with his eventual ascent to the throne and his increasingly strained relationship with Falstaff. As the king falls sick and Hal’s ascent appears imminent, Hal’s decisions hold significant implications for all those around him. Modernizing the language of the two plays, Yvette Nolan’s translation carefully works at the seeds sown by Shakespeare—bringing to new life the characters and dramatic arcs of the original.

Production History

June 13, 2019

Play On! Festival NYC

Rehearsal and Staged Reading directed by Lavina Jadhwani with full cast as part of the Play On! Translation Festival in NYC.

Produced by:
Play On! / Classic Stage / Oregon Shakespeare Festival

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