PREVIEW: Antic Disposition’s Henry V steps back in time at Manchester Cathedral for its fourth year

Izak Hannard | 21st October 2018

Antic Disposition's Henry V Manchester Cathedral

Photo courtesy of Scott Rylander

After touring the North East, Antic Disposition brings their exciting fresh take on Shakespeare’s play ‘Henry V’ to Manchester.

Set in the beautiful Manchester Cathedral, the critically acclaimed play tells the tale of two groups of wounded British and French soldiers. In a French military hospital in 1915, their struggle is documented as they try to take their mind off their pain by enacting their own production of Henry V. The play has even been rated five stars by British Theatre!

The play is directed by Ben Horslen and John Risebero and is back in Manchester for its fourth year. We talked with John Risebero about the inspiration behind the play and how touring has gone so far.

Antic Disposition's Henry V

Photo courtesy of Scott Rylander

“We’ve just been to the North East and now we’re in the north-west performing this play. Before Manchester, we were in Winchester, Leicester and just in Durham. We’ve had some incredible feedback and we’re really looking forward to performing on tour in the city of Manchester.”

To capture the attention of the play and its historic spirit, the play has been performed in cathedrals across England.  It allows the audience to step back in time as it steps back from being performed in a modern theatre.

John Risebero said “we have taken this play to cathedrals across England and there’s something incredibly exciting about performing this play in non-theatre spaces.

The official cast line up has been announced with fourteen British and French actors set to take the stage. Joining the company are Aude Le Pape, Ollie Kaiper-Leach, Tom Gabriel, Christabel Muir, Scott Howland and Vinicius Timmerman.

Completing the cast, Maurice Byrne, Callum Coates, Chris Hespel, Andrew Hodges, James Murfitt, Charles Neville and Dean Riley.

The play will combine poetry, original songs and live music inspired by the Shakespearean period. With one of its aims to bring that era back to life in an entertaining and telling way.

John Risebero went on to say that he has a passion for learning about history and loved learning about Shakespeare and partly inspired the play.

“I’m a bit of a history geek and I was always interested in the subject at school. I love the idea of the connections between history and Shakespeare. It is part of why I wanted to put on this play and bring it to the historical and cultural city of Manchester. We’re all very excited to perform it.”

Antic Disposition's Henry V Manchester

Photo courtesy of Scott Rylander

Antic Disposition’s Henry V will be performed in Manchester between 22nd-24th October in Manchester Cathedral at 7:30 pm.

Tickets: www.henry-v.co.uk