HENRY V Runs 23-26 July at State Theatre Centre of WA

Perth Theatre Trust and State Theatre Centre present an incredibly exciting new production by Bell Shakespeare of Henry V, a tale about a king who unites a nation with his eloquent words and ideas, his triumphs and humanity. Five performances only from Wednesday 23 July to Saturday 26 July in the Heath Ledger Theatre at State Theatre Centre of WA.

Inspired by a true story during the London Blitz of 1941, a gang of boys for 71 consecutive nights, kept fear at bay by rehearsing and performing plays for the captive audiences of a bomb shelter. Inspired by their example, director Damien Ryan in his first mainstage production for Bell Shakespeare, puts a questioning spin on what has come to be thought of as Shakespeare's most patriotic and war-glorifying play.

Damien Ryan welcomes a band of rising stars to the Bell Shakespeare stage in Henry V, including Michael Sheasby, who will play King Henry V, Matthew Backer, Damien Strouthos, Ildiko Susany and Eloise Winestock.

Damien Strouthos was one of Bell Shakespeare's Actors At Work in 2009 and has recently appeared in the TV series Wonderland. Michael played Romeo in Bell Shakespeare's 2011 production of Romeo And Juliet at the Brisbane Festival and in A Place To Call Home. Matthew made his main stage debut playing Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys throughout 2011. He has since made many theatre appearances, most recently on the Griffin Theatre Company stage and in The History Boys at Sydney Opera House. Eloise cut her teeth on some of Shakespeare's greatest plays such as Hamlet and Macbeth for Sport For Jove and Summer of the Seventeenth Doll for Belvoir. Ildiko joins the cast of Henry V after her year on the road with The Players in 2013.

Photo by Pierre Toussaint