Agincourt and Henry V Extravaganza

With a weekend of warm dry weather, the sun shone down on Hay Theatre Company as they performed Henry V and The Battle of Agincourt at the ancient St Mary’s Church, Cusop and Cusop Castle on behalf of Cusop History Group. Together adults and children enjoyed the professionally-led theatrical sword fighting workshop in the churchyard, armour-making workshop inside the church and a picnic soldier’s lunch enjoyed by all participants under the beautiful and ancient yew trees dating back 1, 800 years. A very well-known local long-bow maker, David Cartwright, demonstrated the making of and the importance the long-bow played in the defeat of the French aristocracy. The performance of Henry V - specially adapted and directed by Janine Sharp to retain the quality and historical significance of Shakespeare’s original play whilst bringing the battle of Agincourt to life - was highly acclaimed. The play was delivered through a company of up-to-date and humorous minstrels who took the audience on a journey, beginning in the churchyard, into the 12th Century church where all the pews were full. The influence of the church is shown to be of paramount influence to the young king in his decision to go to war. The play, however, struck a balance between comedy and the harsh reality of war in God’s name, which remains relevant to today. Halfway through the audience were cleverly transported onboard ship helped by lighting, sound and a sail dropped from the church rafters. Waving seagulls on sticks in the air they sailed out of the church, across the sea to land in Calais. Urged on by the Chorus and the Master of Ceremonies to be weary and seasick, they were given swords and encouraged by their King to go… “ Once more unto the breach dear friends once more” and so they did, marching down the path to the beat of the drum onto the lane, where they met an Englishman, Irishman, Welshman and Scotsman, arguing about who is the best at tunnelling under the walls of the French town of Harfleurs. Audience members really felt like they were there, marching on and into the field where they met Katherine Princess of France and her maid Alice sitting by a cattle trough, learning English, for the marriage alliance of Katherine and Henry. The audience marched up onto the castle mound as their final destination. Divided into the French and the English encampments, downhearted and outnumbered by the French aristocracy, a moving rendition of the St Crispin’s Day speech stirred everyone to battle. A list of the names of the bow-men from Hay and Cusop who went to the Battle of Agincourt was read out as part of the roll-call within the play and members of the audience were encouraged to take those parts. Use of the unexcavated but historically significant Cusop Castle as the battle ground provided a fitting backdrop for The Battle of Agincourt, fought by audience and actors alike, to a fun narrative poem. The message was made clear by the director, the portrait of war and its casualties, is a tragic rather than a victorious one. The Agincourt Carol was sung by The Village Quire, the beauty of which, juxtaposed the final tableaux of carnage and the victims of a war- a very moving final scene. A serious subject, topical, thought-provoking, yet made fun and understandable, and enjoyed by everyone of all ages and from all walks of life. The Battle of Agincourt was successfully brought to life in a dignified and participative way that truly commemorated this major historical event. See more photos.