PRINCE HAL IS FINALLY CROWNED IN THE LAST OF THE SERIES

The last play in the Kings and Country tetralogy at the Barbican, Alex Hassell now takes over as the lead character from Antony Sher's Falstaff, as the newly crowned King Henry IV (after playing Prince Hal in Henry IV Parts One and Two). Now eager to wage war with the smug Dauphin of France, Henry proves himself as a headstrong monarch as he leads his troops into the legendary Battle of Agincourt. But being a somewhat insecure man, he snoops around his camp in disguise on the eve of battle, in order to gauge his popularity and to decide who his allies are.

what is it about?

The former Prince Hal, now Henry V has finally succeeded his father to the English throne - and he has something to prove. Desperate to show himself as a warrior king like his forbears, he rushes to make war with the Dauphin of France, whom he feels threatened by. Leading his troops into English-held Normandy to the Battle of Agincourt, on the eve of battle he has a crisis of faith and proceeds snoop around his battle camp in disguise, to gauge his popularity with the troops.

Flawed, trigger-happy and vulnerable, Henry must tread the finest of lines between gaining France - but risk losing England in the process. Shakespeare's play is both at once a celebration of England's past military glories, whilst at the same time can be considered an anti-war play that takes a hard look at the bloody horror of conflict.