Actonians Drama Group

Synopsis

Based upon Henry IV Pt 1 As part of the Royal Shakespeare Company's Open Stages Project, in celebration of their 50th birthday, the Actonians are producing a specially written play based on Henry IV P1. Set in 2012, the Tank, an addiction drop-in centre, is a metaphor for the throne of England and the prize at the heart of a boardroom battle (every bit as fierce as its own metaphor - the Battle of Shrewsbury of 1403). Like the original, it is a mix of drama and comedy, iambic pentameter and prose, and contrasts the world of big business (via the Bolingbroke and the Percy families) with an equally dubious demimonde characterised by hard drinking and crime and personified by Falstaff. Although certain 'liberties' have been taken with gender, it retains most of Henry IV's characters and re-works all the main narratives and plots. Similarly it explores some of Shakespeare's universal questions around leadership, friendship and duty, honour, ambition and struggles with personal demons (an additional theme is alcoholism). This play was produced in association with the Royal Shakespeare Company's Open Stages Project.