King Henry V Arranged for Representation at the Princess's Theatre

This recording presents a mid‑nineteenth‑century stage version of Shakespeare’s Henry V, edited by the famed Victorian actor‑manager Charles Kean for his 1859 revival at the Princess’s Theatre. Kean stripped away much of the original verse‑heavy text, smoothing the dialogue for a modern audience while preserving the play’s most memorable speeches and its lyrical chorus. The edition includes detailed historical notes and stage directions that bring the period’s production values to life.

Listeners are carried into the opening of the drama, where the newly crowned King Henry wrestles with the weight of his inheritance and the call to avenge England’s honor. He assembles his council of dukes, earls, and common soldiers, and we hear his famous “once more unto the breach” resolve as he rallies troops for the campaign across the Channel. The early scenes blend political intrigue, the camaraderie of the common men, and the promise of a daring French campaign. This sets a vivid tone for the epic that follows, without giving away later developments.