Henry IV - Part I

King Henry IV is preparing for war and is prepared to defend his crown. But his son, Prince Hal, is too busy languishing in taverns and brothels to bother with politics. Will Hal continue to live his lavish lifestyle or will he finally confront his duty to family and throne?

At a Glance

War • English Royalty • Family • Politics

Artists

Playwright

Yvette Nolan

Read Bio +

Dramaturg

Waylon Lenk

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Productions, Readings & Workshops

Henry IV, Pt. 1

November 3-12, 2023 | Lewis and Clark College | Production | Portland, OR, USA

Staged Readings of The Henriad, sponsored by Play On with translations of each script

Henriad Plays Reading

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

Paperback & eBooks

Henry IV - Part 1

By William Shakespeare
Translation by Yvette Nolan

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.

Buy Now from ACMRS Press

Henry IV Part 1, book cover from ACMRS Press

Production History

May 8, 2020

FIRST READS: An Online Educational Series

A livestreamed exploration of Midsummer featuring actors from across the country under the direction of Sara Bruner with dramaturgy by Philippa Kelly.

June 4, 2019

Play On! Festival NYC

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

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

Indigenous scholars update language of ‘Henry IV, Part 1’ in new production at Lewis & Clark

By Play On Shakespeare | February 12, 2024

Shakespeare decoded. White test on a bright sky blue background. There are four simplified vector images of people facing right: A pale older man with white hair and beard wearing a kippah. The second is a woman with dark skin and closely shaved black hair and three gold ear piercings. Next is a very pale woman with bright red hair piled on top of her head, large gold hoops earrings, and black sunglasses. Finally an acrogenous person with peach skin and black hair in a coif.

Shakespeare Decoded – “Dramaturgy and Translation as the Gateway to Shakespeare Engagement”

By Play On Shakespeare | June 5, 2023

Edward III

With invitations by the Scots and his claim to the French throne, Edward III must carefully assess how to both keep his throne and country while managing his ambitions to take the French crown. Assisted by his son Edward, the Black Prince, will Edward III discover triumph or tragedy?

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.

Henry V

Prince Hal ascends to the throne after his father’s death, becoming King Henry V. England is in a state of unrest, and Henry V must leave his lavish lifestyle behind to take on his responsibilities as king. Winning battles against all odds, Henry V is about how a rebellious boy becomes one of the most powerful kings in England’s history.

Henry VI – Part I

Henry V dies, leaving behind his heir Henry VI to take up the throne. But Henry VI is still too young to govern England. The nobles fight for power in their effort to control Henry VI’s decisions, and the English are in the midst of a war with France. A play about power and control, what decisions will be made that impact Henry VI’s future rule of the kingdom?

Henry VI – Part II

After an intense battle for power between the nobles in England, young Henry VI chooses for his wife Maraget of Anjou, a marriage arrangement that not only increases tensions between the factions of York and Lancaster, but also those between France and England. The Duke of York begins planning his claim to the throne.

Henry VI – Part III

Henry VI does the unspeakable when he demotes himself of the crown and claims York as his heir, disinheriting his own son. Civil war breaks open as the factions between the houses of York and Lancaster fight for the throne. Queen Margaret takes up the mantle to fight for the Lancasters in this bloody tale of power and revenge.

Henry VIII

Henry VIII follows the story of the historical king and his forbidden love with Anne Bullen. In a battle for power and the need to produce an heir to the English throne, conspiracies arise throughout the kingdom, including the question of Henry’s marriages to both Katherine and Anne.

Henry IV - Part I

At a Glance