HAMPSHIRE Youth Theatre (HYT) - the county’s prestigious youth theatre programme for 14-21 year olds run by Nuffield, presents William Shakespeare’s Henry IV at the Nuffield Theatre this week.

The brand new adaptation by Robin Belfield (Royal Shakespeare Company and formally Nuffield Theatre) combines both Part I and Part II of the story into one production.

It follows weeks of preparation and two weeks of intensive rehearsals for the youngsters as part of a residential project that utilised the performing arts facilities at the University of

Winchester.

The 50 strong cast stayed on site, taking part in workshops with theatre professionals from across the country in disciplines such as physical theatre, mime, vocal technique, and stage

combat.

This all now culminates in four performances from 3 to 5 September on the main stage of the Nuffield Theatre.

The famous pair of Shakespeare plays chart the rise of the two bright lights of England’s future, Hotspur and Hal, exploring the weight of youthful responsibility and their fight for paternal approval.

HYT’s modern adaptation uses the riots of 2011 and the rise of the SNP and Green Parties as alternatives to the established order as inspiration, and mixes it with club and rave culture to create a vibrant adaptation of the Shakespeare classic that takes the action away from its traditional setting of the early 15th century.

Nuffield’s Resident Youth Theatre Director Max Lindsay (His Dark Materials, Nuffield Youth Theatre, The Best Christmas Present in the World, Hampshire Youth Theatre) said the project was challenging on many levels but the talented and determined cast had risen to the occasion.

“What’s so delightful is this cast really want to be challenged and they’re really relishing it. So before we got to rehearsals I set up exercises they could do by themselves for making them feel comfortable with the language and the story. So they looked at repetition and themes that repeat themselves. Stacey Jenson, a voice teacher from a London drama school, gave them a master class in vocal technique and also approaching the text, so they could be comfortable with Shakespeare’s iambic pentameters.

“When I sent out castings they all received an actors’ pack of tasks to do for a month, including 100 questions about their character so they understood the history of what’s gone before. And I got them to write out every one of their own lines in their own language. They also had to come the first day with an image of their character or an item related to their character. Someone brought in a tea towel and we moulded that into the show: their character has OCD so keeps cleaning with it. It all helped with understanding their characters.

“Within the play there is a lot of dancing and movement . It’s set in a club - like the rave clubs of London and Shoreditch. We had a master class with Theatre Ad Infinitum and we are slowly utilizing their skills. We are using a lot of clubbing/ rave tracks, beautiful movement and chaotic, epic dance sequences.”

So why set it in modern times?

“So much of it sits so easily in our world . The main thrust of the play is a series of rebellions against Henry IV which looked to me like the riots of 2011 where people were angry with the perceived establishment and the lack of power of the people.And then we’ve had the leadership of the SNP of Nicola Sturgeon and the rise of the Green Party and their influence. It felt so relevant and pertinent to the world we live in. It felt like it was our world now and not limited to 600 years ago when the events took place. Also, looking at our royal family and Prince Hal getting drunk and Prince Harry’s escapades in Vegas, there were so many links to our current world.

“ It’s looking at the growing up of these characters. Hal is the playboy prince and growing into his duty. Hotspur his rival is at first seen as the person he should be and someone people look up to but he doesn’t keep up his ascent to adulthood, so it’s looking at the ways people grow up. Falstaff never grows up- he is still the clown.”

Max adds that the entire project has been extremely rewarding for everyone involved.

“What’s so lovely is the cast have a real sense of ownership of it. Because they are on a residential course they have become such a tight-knit group and they are so supportive of each other. The level of talent is incredible – they have been so on it! They have wanted to challenge themselves. They are desperate to make this the best project they can. “

Henry IV opens on Thursday September 3 and runs until Saturday September 5 at the Nuffield Theatre. Tickets available from the Box Office: 023 8067 1771, and from nuffieldtheatre.co.uk.