UK Theatre Network

SHAKESPEARE’S GLOBE

A good  rogering to be had  by all!

Roger Allam plays Falstaff in the Globe premiere of

Henry IV Part 1

Part 1: 6 June – 2 October

Published by: Tremayne

Roger Allam, a firm RSC and National Theatre actor, takes on the role of Falstaff in the Globe’s Premiere of Henry IV Parts 1 and 2.

Part 1: 6 June – 2 October

Part 2: 3 July – 3 October

Artistic Director, Dominic Dromgoole, is in his fifth season at the

Shakespeare’s Globe.

The full cast: Roger Allam, Jason Baughan, Patrick Brennan, Daon Broni, Phil Cheadle, Oliver Coopersmith, Oliver Cotton, Sam Crane, William Gaunt, Christopher Godwin, Sean Kerns, James Lainey, Danny Lee Wynter, Kevork Malikyan, Barbara Marten, Jamie Parker, Paul Rider, Lorna Stuart, Joseph Timms, Jade Williams.

Director: Dominic Dromgoole.

Designer: Jonathan Fensom.

Composer: Claire van Kampen.

An ostentatious display opens Henry IV Part I as the actors make good use of the playing space. I find this is often the case with performances I have seen  at the Globe. They smoothly weave themselves amongst the audience and into the main area of the stage, all the time cleverly allowing  people to take up their seats.

The historical portrayals can prove to be quite confusing and it is when you see them  performed that they begin to make sense.  The backstory to Henry IV Parts Iand II is in Shakespeare;s Richard II. Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Lancaster, later Henry IV, forces the abdication of King Richard with the support of the powerful Percy family, the Earls of Northumberland and Worcester.  Richard is subsequently murdered. At the end of the play, Henry promises to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land’.

Roger Allam, who plays Sir John Falstaff,  reminds me of a cross between Oliver Reed and Brian Blessed, with his continual strong presence immediately setting us at ease.  A quality actor who is not set off course when the heavens open  wide but,  instead, takes it onboard as his given set of circumstances..  As the heavy downpour  envelops us, he gives a quick glance, a glimmer of reality appears on his face as if  to say, ‘can you believe this!’, which goes down a storm, quite literally!

The performance he gives is very different from the one given by Michael Gambon in the 2005 version of Henry IV Parts 1 and 2. that was put on at The National Theatre, and I question whether or not I  preferred  Allam’s interpretation instead.

Jamie Parker is a delight to watch as Prince Hal and makes smooth transitions through the different changes in mood of his character.

Finally, Kevork Malikyan  plays multiple roles but  stood out for me the most as the Servant.  He is, of course, instantly recognisable to many from the hit Channel 4 sitcom, The Inbetweeners.  Notably a natural mover, he shows this  in a dance-up which occurs at the brewery.

And when the back-drop curtain falls behind Roger Allam as he exits the stage at the end of Part I, I felt truly uplifted and thrilled .  A thoroughly capitivating performance by Roger Allam.

Booking: Phone 020 7401 9919 or 020 7087 7398

In person: Mon-Sat 10 am – 6 pm (8 pm on performance days).

Sundays 10 am – 5 pm ( 7 pm on performance days.)

On-line: www.shakespeares-globe.org

Tickets: £5 - £35.00