21 Mar 2024
Last week Year 12 got to see Shakespeare’s Henry IV brought to life on stage at the Seymour Centre in Sydney.
The play, which is currently part of the Year 12 Advanced English curriculum, spans part of the reign of the titular monarch. It starts with the battle at Homidon Hill, ends with the Battle of Shrewbury and covers his dealings with a rebellious faction of nobles and the escapades of his son Prince Hal (the future King Henry V). Notably, it is the first play to include Falstaff, a recurring character in a number of Shakespeare’s plays.
English teacher Libby Ridgway, who accompanied the students together with Ken Townsing, believes that seeing Shakespeare performed is the quintessential way to experience the text. Students Carl Zirilli and Luca Brighenti were clearly blown away by the performance with Zirilli giving the show a 9 out of 10 and Brighenti gushing “it was the greatest literary performance I’ve ever seen!”
Special thanks to the director Damien Ryan and the cast members who took the time to discuss bringing the play to the stage with the students. Also a huge thank you to Ms Ridgway and Mr Townsing for chaperoning our students and providing them with this fantastic opportunity.