A GLORIOUS English victory is among the highlights at a Hampshire theatre this autumn.

Two new plays are being staged at Hedge End’s The Berry Theatre as part of its Road to Agincourt project.

The first, The Road to Glory, tells the story of a group of young villagers, some of them barely out of childhood, who enlist in King Henry V’s army and set sail from Southampton to claim the throne of France for England.

Each has a different reason for going and their expectations vary, but none has any experience of fighting in a war.

Neil Duffield’s play, shown on Friday and Saturday, October 30 and 31, combines both fact and fantasy in a fast-paced production taking the audience from rural England to the bloodshed of the battle of Agincourt.

On Saturday, Neil will take part in a Q&A session hosted by the play’s director Daniel Hill.

Hampshire’s Year 9 students will rework Shakespeare’s chronicle of the battle in Shakespearience: Henry V, the second play in The Road to Agincourt on Friday, November 20.

Daily Echo:

Another great British writer is brought to the stage on Friday, October 16 with Adam Long’s Dickens Abridged – a high-speed comic journey through Charles Dickens’ greatest hits.

Two nights of comedy are also part of the autumn season.

Stand-up comic Sean Hughes brings his new show Mumbo Jumbo to the venue on Saturday, November 7 and just two weeks later (Saturday, November 21) Robert Newman brings his Robert Newman: The Brain Show to the venue.

Two of Shakespeare’s greatest and most violent plays will be screened from the National Theatre as part of the season.

On September 24 National Theatre Live, Coriolanus, will be on show with an award-winning performance from Tom Hiddleston in the title role and directed by the Donmar Warehouse’s artistic director Josie Rourke.

Benedict Cumberbatch will be taking on the bard when he plays the titular role in Hamlet on Thursday, October 15.

For younger members of the family, Emma Reeves’ Snow Child is on Saturday, November 7.

With atmospheric music, beautiful movement and an inspired design, Snow Child promises to be a wonderland of inventive storytelling to enchant children and families.

For Christmas The Berry Theatre presents Little Red Riding Hood on Christmas Eve.

Acclaimed playwright Mike Kenny’s script promises to be a tale packed with special pies, smelly fur coats and doughnuts and runs from Friday, December 11.

For more information about all these shows contact the box office on 023 8065 2333 or visit www.the berrytheatre.co.uk.