★★★★☆
Tom Mothersdale, his black hair as unruly as the mind of the king he will become, is twisted like a question mark, his left leg permanently bent and bound from ankle to thigh with leather straps. He is dressed in modern attire, dark burgundy clothes and black gloves, and is a man at war with his body. He does not walk, but thrusts himself around the stage as he embarks on the first of many murders.
This new production of Shakespeare’s great play is produced by Headlong and is directed by John Haidar. His new version of the text incorporates some extracts from the trilogy of Henry VI plays and “streamlines” (his word) the play. This version feels absolutely focused, from the brutal beginning,