Owen Horsley’s new production of Henry VI, Parts 2 and 3, uses a cast of 120, including professionals and community participants, with some of them filming the action on stage
I discovered recently that Richard Wagner liked to spend his evenings at home performing scenes from Henry VI. You can see why Shakespeare’s monumental trilogy would appeal to the creator of the Ring cycle. You could also hardly have a starker contrast than Wagner’s solo efforts – “in the face of which,” said his wife, Cosima, “mortals can only be silent” – and the RSC’s upcoming production of Henry VI Parts 2 and 3, which will feature a total cast of 120.
This massive project is in the hands of Owen Horsley, who last year co-directed, with Gregory Doran, a streamed version of Henry VI: Part 1, which broke all the usual rules by allowing viewers access to rehearsals. Meeting Horsley during a lunch break on his epic venture, I was struck by the calm assurance of this Fife-born Scot. And, having spent eight years with Cheek by Jowl and as long working on the RSC history cycle, he clearly knows his Shakespeare.
