HENRY VI
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Mon 1-Sat 20 Feb
“She’s beautiful, and therefore to be wooed; She is a woman, therefore to be won.” Shakespeare’s plays have an infamous history for being morphed and corrupted to exploit their underlying identity politics, subverting quintessential plots to mirror contemporary issues of race and gender.
Not known to shy away from such a challenge, Omidaze Productions return to the Wales Millennium Centre with a subversive twist on Henry VI. Following the critical success of their take on Richard III, Shakespeare’s tale of the king’s Machiavellian rise to the throne and its all-female cast, Omidaze Productions have continued their interrogation of gender roles in the gynocentric Henry VI. A three part tale of conspiracy and treason, director Yvonne Murphy’s production will once again be female lead, documenting the rise and fall of King Henry and the intricate plotting surrounding his demise. Amid the political drama, the expectations of gender are interrogated, particularly in the figures of powerful women, who arguably fulfil the masculine role more than the king himself.
An already interesting display of gender politics, the all female line up will cast new light on the supposed stereotypes of women, providing both an entertaining and informing spectacle. With power, leadership and conflict all tied up within Murphy’s drama, the consequences of rebellion and war will be fully realised.
Tickets: £12/£6 under-25s. Info: 029 2063 6464 / https://www.wmc.org.uk
words CONOR KNIGHT