Never before have I published a post about the programme for a play. But the one for Henry V111 at The Globe Theatre is a template for all others. I nearly didn't buy it and it was only because I wanted to find out about the cast that I found one at the interval.
Let's look at the contents:
A Potted History of Shakespeare's Globe
The Company : the cast and all the production team (alphabetical so director Amy Hodge is halfway down)
The Globe Staff and the Shakespeare Trust
Then the good stuff:
Sonnet 116
Synopsis by writer Hannah Khalil
The Play - Key Information about the Production
A Note on the (adapted) Text by Hannah Khalil
All Is True - Sources, Early Performance etc
A Female Heir - Kate Maltby on Women within the Tudor Court (four pages)
For Queen and Country - Will Tosh on ceremony etc from Elizabeth 1 to Elizabeth 11
From Page To Stage - Director Amy Hodge and Designer Georgia Lowe
Biographies and Pictures of the Cast in rehearsal (lots)
A page of the characters in costume
I don't expect new plays to have so much historical stuff, but they should try harder. And that is why I have of late not bought a programme, "Jack Absolute Rides Again" as one example.
There is also some "Key Facts" in my Complete Works which includes something about stylistic studies and how these have allocated certain scenes between William Shakespeare and John Fletcher . If anyone is interested.
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