'Why, I can smile, and murder whiles I smile.'

— Act III, Scene 2

Part of the 2012 Globe to Globe Festival.

The third part of the Balkan Henry VI trilogy is infused with live music, as traditional Macedonian songs punctuate the bloody action. This grand drama of civil war was given new life for Shakespeare’s Globe by the National Theatre of Bitola, who staged the first play in the Macedonian language following the liberation of the country from the Axis Powers in 1944.

Synopsis

As the War of the Roses rages, Richard, Duke of York, promises King Henry to end his rebellion if his sons are named heirs to the throne. When the King agrees, his wife, Queen Margaret, is furious he has disinherited her son, Prince Edward. York’s sons criticise the agreement, and convince their father to once again try to seize the throne by force. Weary with kingship and the tolls of war, Henry and his advisors try to quell the rebellion, while the sons of York fight for the throne.

Running time: 140 mins

Cast

King Henry VI:

Graham Butler

Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester:

Garry Cooper

Queen Margaret:

Mary Doherty

Henry Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester:

Mike Grady

Richard/Charles the Dauphin:

Simon Harrison

Young Clifford/Duke of Somerset:

David Hartley

Duke of Bedford/Duke of Burgundy/Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March/Dick the Butcher:

Nigel Hastings

John Talbot/Edmund, Earl of Rutland:

Joe Jameson

Edward, Earl of March/King Edward IV:

Patrick Myles

Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York/Lewis XI, King of France:

Brendan O'Hea

Reignier, Duke of Anjou/George, Duke of Clarence:

Gareth Pierce

Joan of Arc/Eleanor, Duchess of Gloucester/Lady Grey:

Beatriz Romilly

Earl of Warwick/Lord Talbot:

Andrew Sheridan

Creatives

Composer:

Alex Baranowski

Designer:

Ti Green

Director:

Nick Bagnall

Directed for the screen:

Ian Russell