Stage Door News
Stage Door News
May 31, 2016… The Stratford Festival presents the world première of Breath of Kings: a specially commissioned two-play distillation of the great Shakespearean Henriad history cycle. Breath of Kings: Rebellion began previews on Monday and Breath of Kings: Redemption begins previews today. Both plays officially open on Wednesday, June 22, at the newly reconfigured theatre-in-the-round at the Tom Patterson Theatre.
Developed in the Festival’s Laboratory by actor and director Graham Abbey, this exciting new theatrical project combines Richard II, the two parts of Henry IV, and Henry V into a pair of fast-paced, interconnected plays that can be enjoyed either individually or together as one grand epic.
Rebellion: Richard II and Henry IV Part 1
Directed by Weyni Mengesha and Mitchell Cushman
Lust for power leads to political turmoil in this new distillation of Shakespeare’s epic histories of a nation and its rulers – their lives, their battles and their deaths.
Redemption: Henry IV Part 2 and Henry V
Directed by Mitchell Cushman and Weyni Mengesha
Can victory abroad resolve crisis at home? Henry IV and his charismatic son, Henry V, are the major players in this second of the two new distillations of Shakespeare’s great dramas of kingship.
An exceptional cast of 20 actors playing more than 70 roles is led by Mr. Abbey as Bolingbroke/Henry IV, Araya Mengesha as Prince Hal/Henry V, Tom Rooney as Richard II and Chorus, and Geraint Wyn Davies as Falstaff and Fluellen. Michelle Giroux plays Queen to King Richard and Doll Tearsheet, Kate Hennig plays Duchess of Gloucester, Bishop of Carlisle and Mistress Quickly, Johnathan Sousa plays Hotspur and Nigel Shawn Williams plays Duke of Exeter, Earl of Northumberland and Bardolph.
“Our two Breath of Kings plays, distilled from some of the greatest of Shakespeare’s histories, tell sweeping stories of uprising and betrayal, of one victor inevitably supplanted by another,” says Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino. “Questions of the cost of victory permeate these epic tales of dynastic struggles for power and the vicissitudes of fortune.”
In their director’s notes, Mr. Cushman and Ms Mengesha state: “In the 400 years since Shakespeare penned these four plays, the systems of power in the western world have evolved from monarchy to democracy; but something has remained constant. We may have our parliament (as Richard had his), but we still entrust, at least to some degree, the power of national decision-making to a single individual. What compels someone to seek a throne (be it situated inside a castle, an Oval Office or a boardroom), and what should we demand from those who sit upon them? These questions boom like cannons from every line of these quintessentially political plays.”
The creative team for Breath of Kings includes Set Designer Anahita Dehbonehie, Costume Designer Yannik Larivée, Lighting Designer Kimberly Purtell, Composer and Sound Designer Debashis Sinha, Fight Director John Stead and Movement Director Brad Cook.
Production support is generously provided by The Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation and by Martie & Bob Sachs.
Sponsor for the 2016 season of the Tom Patterson Theatre is BMO Financial Group.
Support for the 2016 season of the Tom Patterson Theatre is generously provided by Richard Rooney & Laura Dinner.
Breath of Kings Forum Highlights
The Forum is a series of activities and events, featuring exclusive showcases, guest speakers, special meals, dynamic dialogues and family fun, that offer theatregoers a unique opportunity to delve deeper into the ideas and issues raised by the 2016 playbill and its theme of After the Victory.
Themes related to Breath of Kings will be explored through several Forum events, including:
• Such is the Breath of Kings
Wednesday, June 15, 10:45 a.m to noon
Studio Theatre
Company members read excerpts from Elizabethan plays that dramatize the history Shakespeare left out. Robert Cushman and guests explore the background to these fascinating plays and their relationship to Breath of Kings.
• Ideas at Stratford: The Challenge of History
Saturday, August 6, 10:30 a.m. to noon
Tom Patterson Theatre
Margaret MacMillan, Massey lecturer, award-winning historian and author of the acclaimed book Paris 1919: Six Months That Changes the World, headlines a discussion with veteran politician Bob Rae and journalist Brian Stewart about the ways in which our ever-changing understanding of history shapes our future. Moderated by Ideas host Paul Kennedy.
This event will be live streamed: stratfordfestival.ca/streaminglive.
Sustaining support for the Forum is generously provided by Kelly & Michael Meighen and the T.R. Meighen Family Foundation.
The 2016 season runs until October 30. It features Macbeth, As You Like It, A Chorus Line, Shakespeare in Love, A Little Night Music, All My Sons, Breath of Kings, John Gabriel Borkman, The Hypochondriac, The Aeneid, Bunny and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit stratfordfestival.ca or call 1.800.567.1600.
Photo: Tom Rooney and Graham Abbey. ©2015 Don Dixon.
2016-05-31
Stratford: Two-part compression of Shakespeare's Second Tetralogy now on stage