Scene Synopsis

ACT 1
PROLOGUE: The chorus introduce the story to the audience and tell them to use their imagination to create scenes in the head.

SCENE 1:   The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Ely discuss the fact that after his father died Henry became more responsible, less childish and whether they think he will have a good ruling. Also they discuss the matter of the French throne rightfully belonging to henry and if he should take it or not.

SCENE 2: After talking to the Archbishop and he Bishop Henry receives tennis balls from the dauphin to mock him and call him childish still. This is what gives Henry the incentive to invade France.

 ACT 2

PROLOGUE: The chorus describe the change of setting to the audience and that England is going to war with France. The young men are all willing to fight for their country "all the youth of England re on fire". They tell the audience about 3 traitors who are plotting against the king, Cambridge,Scroop and Grey.

SCENE 1: Introduction of characters Bardolph, Pistol, Nym, Nell and Boy. A argument breaks out between Pistol and Nym whilst Bardolph tries to get them to stop along with Nell, the Boy informs them that their friend John Falstaff is ill and they need to go and see him.

SCENE 2:  The king and his court tricks the 3 traitors into confessing their crimes and has them arrested.

SCENE 3: Bardolph,Nym and Pistol decide to go to war after John's death. Nell is saying goodbye to them.

SCENE 4: The Duke of Exeter travels to France to warn the French king that if he does not give up France to Henry he will go to war with them for it and he will lose many people.



 ACT 3
PROLOGUE: The chorus transports the audience to Harfluer where Henry and his army are making their way over by boat. They tell the audience that the French have refused to give over France to Henry and they are going to war.

SCENE 1: Henry gives his army a speech to encourage his men and make sure they are ready for battle.

SCENE 2: Nym, Pistol and Bardoplh don't go to the breech with the other soldier, they stay behind only to get shouted at for being lazy cowards by Fluellen. The Boy tells how he wishes he had not come to France and s not happy with the company he has acquired, Bardolph, pistol and Nym are thieves and he doesn't want to be like that, he wants to be at home.

SCENE 3: Henry threatens the governor that if he does not let him and his men through the gates there will be consequences.

SCENE 5: The French court are growing more concerned about Henry and his approaching army. The king orders hi men to take down Henry's army.

SCENE 6: Bardolph has been sentenced to death for sealing and Pistol begs Fluellen to have mercy on him and spare his life.

SCENE 7:  A messenger informs the French court that the English army is extremely close, they then discuss how they are going to defeat the English.

 ACT 4
PROLOGUE: The chorus tell the audience that the English army are resting in a camp and Henry is being as supportive as he can by visiting them in their camp and giving them words of encouragement.

SCENE 1: In disguise, Henry walks around the camp and has conversation with soldiers without being recognised as the king. He has a disagreement with a soldier called Williams over Henry's leadership and exchange gloves so they can find each other later.

SCENE 2: The French know the English are little in number and weak and they are very confident about winning the war.

SCENE 3: Although it looks like the English will lose having lost so many men Henry refuses to give up.

SCENE 4: The battle occurs.

SCENE 6: The battle has been fought and the English come out successful.

SCENE 7:  A French messenger arrives and asks Henry if he would give them time to collect their dead from the battleground, first Henry wants  him to agree that the English are victorious and he agrees. The King gives the glove to Fluellen and tells him that anyone who asks about it is and enemy.

SCENE 8: Williams sees  Fluellen with the glove and is sure it is him that he had the argument with and slaps him over the head with a the glove. Just before he is arrested for assaulting Fluellen the King arrives and admits it was he who argued with Williams in the camp.



 ACT 5: 
PROLOGUE: The chorus describe Henry and his men's journey back to England after winning the war.

SCENE 1: The French King agrees to meet with Henry and give his daughters hand in marriage as a peace treaty between the two countries.

 EPILOGUE: The chorus describe how Henry and Kathrine have a son, King Henry VI but loses France in a war.

Laban Efforts

To begin building our characters we started exploring different types of physicality we could apply using Laban efforts. We began looking at a chart of different ways of moving through the space.




We had to think about the contrast in our characters considering that we were playing women in a ammunitions factory in the beginning sequence and a man for the rest of the play. There are obvious physical differences between men and women which effect the way they walk. I have 3 male characters in Henry V and a lot of the choices I've made for those characters in terms of physicality are very heavy and direct. Whereas for my character who works in the factory. Even though she is not a soldier I want her movements to still be very direct because she has a job to do and being very direct represents the whole atmosphere in  the factory, an orderly working environment.

For my character John Bates I've decided that because he's a tired soldier in a camp he should have a very indirect, heavy type of walk. Whereas with my character Gloucester needs to be very direct, quick and heavy because he needs to show he has some authority over some of the other characters but he I also under the king and needs to be ready to jump up to serve the king for anything he wants.