Shakespeare, Henry VIII, and the Performance of History (2020-21)
Project lead:
Dr Laura Wright | Faculty of English | University of Oxford
Partner Organisation:
This project was originally conceived of as a three part series, taking place over a week. It is a collaboration between an early career researcher who specialises in early modern drama, and Lucy Askew, Chief Executive of Creation Theatre. The project explores Shakespeare and Fletcher's little-known play, 'Henry VIII’ – itself a collaborative work – and the practicalities of performance, introducing the public to the stages of developing a production from page to stage. The primary question is: how does the performance of lavish, visual spectacle ('pomp and circumstance') affect our understanding of this complex history play? An online rehearsed reading has already taken place, and further activity is due in spring 2021.
