Across the Dark Water at various venues this month

Three new plays have been commissioned by The Berry Theatre to mark the 600th Anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt, as part of The Road to Agincourt, a two-year project to recognise the important role the area played in the run up to the famous battle.

And the first play, Across the Dark Water, will be staged at venues across Hampshire as part of the project.

Written by Ben Musgrave, Across the Dark Water recreates the events of the Southampton plot – a scheme to overthrow Henry V.

As the armies of England muster in Southampton, preparing to launch Henry’s invasion of France, Scrope of Masham has discovered a dark plot that threatens to unseat Henry and change the course of history.

Two other plays, The Road to Glory by Neil Duffield, inspired by the boy soldiers who travelled with the baggage of Henry V’s army, and Shakespearience, a new adaptation of Shakespeare’s Henry V performed by students from Hampshire secondary schools, will be staged in the autumn.

The plays are being produced by The Berry Theatre’s creative team thanks to a £59,000 grant from Arts Council England.

A further grant of £81,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund will be used to create a series of events and activities supporting the productions, including a maritime archaeological dig by the University of Southampton on the site of the wreck of Henry V’s flagship Grace Dieu and the creation of interpretation boards, to be displayed near the wreckage.

Owen Calvert-Lyons, Artistic Director of The Berry Theatre and Director of Across the Dark Water, said: “The next two years promise to be very exciting for The Berry Theatre as we help the region mark the 600th anniversary of The Battle of Agincourt.

"We are thrilled that thanks to the support from ACE we have been able to commission three new plays to mark this anniversary."

“The Agincourt 600 project demonstrates The Berry Theatre’s commitment to new writing.

"We want to commission outstanding playwrights to tell powerful stories – so I am delighted to be working with Ben Musgrave and Neil Duffield to do just that.”

Across the Dark Water is set in 1415 as the armies of England muster in Southampton preparing for Henry V’s invasion of France.

But loyal Scrope of Masham has discovered a dark plot that threatens to unseat Henry and change the course of history.

Scrope intends to reveal all but as he uncovers more at Itchen Ferry, he is pulled across the dark water – pulled so far he may never come back alive.

Owen Calvert-Lyons said: “Across the Dark Water will tour to venues which played a key role in these historic events.

"The production will open in Portchester Castle – where Henry gathered his troops before sailing for France; this is also where the plot was revealed to him.

“The play then follows in the footsteps of the plotters, being staged in locations where they met 600 years earlier to the day.

"The production will conclude at St Julien’s Chapel, where it is claimed that the headless body of one of the plotters is buried.

“These really are extraordinary locations, each with its own special relationship to the story of the Southampton Plot.”

Across the Dark Water will be performed at: Portchester Castle – July 21 to 23, Pear Tree Church, Itchen Ferry - July 24 and 25, Royal Victoria Park, Netley – July 26, Hamble Priory Church, Hamble – July 28 and 29 and St Julien’s Chapel, Southampton – July 30 to Aug 1

To find out more about The Road to Agincourt project visit: roadtoagincourt.co.uk.