HVI: Play of Thrones, Union Theatre - theatre review

Director Phil Willmott has hit on the idea of staging the three parts of Shakespeare’s Henry VI in a style that calls to mind the medieval brutality of Game of Thrones
Action and passion: Paul Adyefa in HVI: Play of thrones (Picture: Scott Rylander)
Henry Hitchings9 January 2015

Anyone familiar with the medieval brutality of Game of Thrones will recognise the world of Shakespeare’s history plays — and vice versa. The connection is clear in A Song of Ice And Fire, the series of novels on which the TV drama is based, and their creator George R. R. Martin has commented that: "You look at Shakespeare, who borrowed all of his plots… I take stuff from the Wars of the Roses and other fantasy things."

It was only a matter of time, then, before someone tried to bridge the gap between Martin’s Seven Kingdoms Of Westeros — where Goodfellas meets The Lord of the Rings — and Shakespeare’s visions of assorted monarchs called either Richard or Henry, packed with stories of ambition and betrayal.

Phil Willmott, a director who delights in mounting gutsy low-budget versions of classic plays, has hit on the idea of staging the three parts of Shakespeare’s Henry VI in a style that calls to mind HBO’s small-screen epic. The savage instability of Henry’s kingdom is depicted with graphic exuberance as we’re treated to lots of beards, chest hair, shouting and violence.

The thuggery, wooden at first, becomes convincing once the future Richard III turns up. Michael Keane is genuinely sinister in the role, squirming across the stage and cradling instruments of torture as if they are his favourite playthings. There’s vigorous work around him — Gavin Kerr is a sly Duke of Suffolk, Penelope Day a potent Duchess of York.

Sometimes the acting is as cacophonous as the clanging of the metal stepladders that are used by Willmott as frames, platforms and weapons. But even if it’s a bit clunky this is a passionate, accessible take on Shakespeare.

Until January 24 (020 7261 9876, uniontheatre.biz)

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