In a dramatic triple-header, the Guthrie Theater plays host to three plays by William Shakespeare, each forming part of The Henriad, the celebrated playwright's history of 14th and 15th century English kings. Chronicling the drama, strife, and political power struggles that gripped the throne, as with all of Shakespeare's timeless work, they're as much an exploration of the human condition as they are his account of England's history. This is your chance to catch all three parts before they conclude at the end of May!

Richard II - Part 1

Until May 24, 2024 - Wurtele Thrust Stage

Richard II is portrayed as a capricious and vain monarch, who is convinced of his own divinity, but fails to see the danger and precarious nature of his claim to the throne. Exiling all those who he sees as a threat, the banishment of Henry Bolingbroke would prove to be his undoing. Accusing the Duke of Norfolk of seizing his lands and plotting to murder his uncle the Duke of Gloucester, Henry leaves for exile abroad, promising to return for his rightful inheritance, with an army to support him. When Richard is distracted by a rebellion in Ireland, Bolingbroke returns quietly to England, intent on recovering his rightful property, and instigates an uprising against the incompetant king, much to the glee of his peers.
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Henry IV - Part 2

Until May 25, 2024 - Wurtele Thrust Stage

Henry IV is the second part of The Henriad. With King Henry IV grappling with rebellious factions within and political threats from the outside, his mischievous son Prince Hal must grow up and prove himself as a genuine future leader during a decisive clash at the Battle of Shrewsbury. Written in the final years of the 16th Century, it's both a thrilling entry and the perfect setup for The Henriad's grand finale, King Henry V.
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Henry V - Final part

Until May 25, 2024 - Wurtele Thrust Stage

After a long wait, Henry V finally succeeds his father to the throne, finding his country in disarray. Political tension and the fatigue of civil war have left the English dissatisfied and in need of a strong leader. But first he must win their respect and trust after a youth misspent in London's seedy Boar's Head Tavern, running amok with thieves and vagabonds. Hoping war with France will win over his people, he sets out to prove himself as a warrior king like his forbears by leading his troops into English-held Normandy to the Battle of Agincourt.
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Have you seen any of the parts of The Henriad yet or plan to? Don't forget to tell us what you thought by leaving a review on the events pages!