Theatre News

Plays Extend: Globe’s Henry, Spur of the Moment

Shakespeare’s Globe has added an extra eight performances of Henry IV, Part 1 and 2 to its summer repertory, extending the 2010 season to Saturday 9 October.

Artistic director Dominic Dromgoole’s productions of the two parts of Shakespeare’s epic history play, starring Roger Allam as Falstaff and Jamie Parker as Prince Hal, opened on 14 July 2010 (previews from 6 June for Part 1, 3 July for Part 2) and were due to conclude on 3 October. The extra performances will now take place on 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 October.

The productions – along with Henry VIII and The Merry Wives of Windsor from this year’s “Kings and Rogues” season – are also being filmed in high definition for future distribution in cinemas, online and on DVD.

The Henry IV cast also features William Gaunt, Oliver Cotton, Christopher Godwin and Paul Rider. These productions, designed by Jonathan Fensom, mark the first time that the plays have been staged at the Globe.


In other recent play extension news, Spur of the Moment, the debut play by 18-year-old Anya Reiss (written when she was 17), has added a week to its season at the Royal Court Jerwood Theare Upstairs. The production, directed by Jeremy Herrin, premiered on 20 July 2010 (previews from 14 July) and will now continue until 21 August.

Pre-teen Delilah likes High School Musical, swim parties and ogling the lodger. While her parents throw verbal grenades at one another, they barely notice their 21-year-old tenant starting to notice her. The cast comprises Sharon Small, Kevin Doyle, James McArdle, Rosie Day, Aisling Loftus, Jordan Loughran, Yasmin Paige and 12-year-old Shannon Tarbet as Delilah.