London, UK – A new production at Soho Theater is sparking debate and challenging theatrical conventions wiht a searing examination of Shakespeare’s Henry V and its inherent xenophobia. English Kings Killing Foreigners, created by performers Tristan Bowers and Raphaël arditti, doesn’t offer a traditional staging of the historical drama, but rather a meta-theatrical deconstruction, questioning the responsibility of modern theatre to re-examine and perhaps reshape problematic historical narratives.
The show originated from the actors’ own experiences performing Henry V with the Globe Ensemble, and directly confronts the play’s nationalistic fervor and violent depiction of conflict. Bowers and Arditti, playing heightened versions of themselves – one a Shakespeare devotee, the other initially dismissive of the Bard – dissect the text, exploring the implications of casting choices and the potential for reimagining the play to avoid perpetuating harmful tropes. They ask pointed questions: What changes when the king is played by a non-english, mixed-race, or queer actor? Does performer identity alter the impact of a story centered on English conquest?
The production, which began at Camden People’s Theatre last year, utilizes witty audience interaction and a deliberately uncomfortable tone to facilitate a “smart, clear-eyed debate.” It builds to a powerful final act, shifting from intellectual analysis to visceral impact, notably by recontextualizing the chorus’ prologue to the second act – “All the youth of England are on fire” – to highlight its inherent violence. English Kings Killing Foreigners isn’t simply about Henry V; it’s a broader inquiry into the ethics of staging British history plays and the potential for theatre to actively counter narratives of nationalistic aggression.
The show runs at Soho Theatre, London, until October 18th.
