Henry IV, Part 1

by William Shakespeare

Play Concept

To emphasize Prince Hal's journey, this concept takes inspiration from The Birdcage (1996) as I contrast a rigid, conservative court with a looser, queerer Eastcheap. As the Prince, there are strict expectations about how he acts and what he believes. Hal leaves the court to escape those pressures and find the space to explore his identity as an individual, not a crown prince. In this production, Hal’s transition to Prince Harry leans into the bittersweet. While he’s cleansing his reputation of the crime and debauchery Falstaff embraces, he’s also rejecting the warmth, light-heartedness, and subversive nature of this found family of thieves. This Hal is meant to struggle with his choice to abandon the freedom, connections, and identity he’s made in Eastcheap.