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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?

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Play On Shakespeare > History > Henry VI – Part I
Henry VI - Part I
Henry VI - Part II
Henry VI - Part III

At a Glance

War • English Royalty • Family • Politics

Productions, Readings & Workshops

The Wars of the Roses

November 7 – 14, 2024 | Shakespeare Dallas | Readings | Dallas, TX, USA
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Henry VI – Part I, II, & III

Prague Shakespeare Company | Production | July 30, 2022 | Prague, CZ
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Paperback & eBooks

By William Shakespeare
Translation by Douglas Langworthy

New versions of Shakespeare’s history plays from director and translator Douglas Langworthy. ​

In his three Henry VI plays, Shakespeare tackles the infamous Wars of the Roses and the fall of the House of Lancaster. In this translation of Henry VI, Part 1, Douglas Langworthy explores the initial unrest as a young Henry VI becomes king. Langworthy’s translation takes a deep dive into the language of Shakespeare. With a fine-tooth comb, he updates passages that are archaic and difficult to the modern ear and matches them with the syntax and lyricism of the rest of the play, essentially translating archaic Shakespeare to match contemporary Shakespeare.

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Production History

May 31, 2019

Play On! Festival NYC

Rehearsal and Staged Reading of all three parts of Henry VI. Part I was presented on May 31, 2019 and directed by Leah C. Gardiner. Part II was presented in the afternoon on June 1, 2019 and directed by Michael Barakiva. Part III was presented in the evening on June 1, 2019 and directed by Nelson T. Eusebio III. Each part was presented with a 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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Henry IV – Part I

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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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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 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.

King John

After claims that King Philip of France’s nephew should be king instead, King John rejects the embassy and goes to war with France. In a play about war and compromise, which party will agree to compromise and who will take the English crown?

Richard II

After his exile of Henry Bolingbroke, Richard II seizes noble land and uses the money to fund wars in Ireland. But when Henry returns to England to reclaim his land, he gathers an army of those who oppose Richard. Only one can take the throne.

Richard III

Richard III will stop at nothing to place the crown upon his head, even to the detriment of his own family. Following the events in Henry VI, Part III, Richard III is a story about manipulation, deceit, and a drive toward power.