PLAY BY PLAY: The Henry VI Plays
$90
PLAY BY PLAY
Shakespeare, one play at a time.
Join us on Zoom for PLAY BY PLAY, a lively, engaging, and in-depth exploration of Shakespeare’s plays in (roughly!) chronological order.
Each month, I’ll lead students on a deep dive through one Shakespeare play, guiding us through the text and helping bring the language, characters, themes, history, and dramatic choices into focus. Together, we’ll explore not only what happens in each play, but why Shakespeare made the choices he did—and what they can reveal to us today.
This isn’t about having all the answers or being a Shakespeare expert. It’s about slowing down, looking closely, asking questions, and discovering the richness of the plays together.
This month: The Three Parts of Henry VI!
SYNOPSES:
HENRY VI, PART 1: Crises emerge following Henry V’s death: at home, his infant son inherits the crown while rivals vie for political control; abroad, the English army faces fierce resistance from the French, led by Joan la Pucelle (Joan of Arc). As years pass, the two feuding houses of York and Lancaster emerge, and their quarreling hampers the efforts of the beleaguered English forces in France. The play sees the weak Henry VI’s efforts to make peace over-run by events.
HENRY VI, PART 2: The play sees the strengthening of the Duke of York’s power as he plots against Henry VI: the loyal Duke of Gloucester is implicated in the disastrous wars in France and later murdered, and the Duchess of Gloucester is banished. While York leaves to suppress a rising in Ireland, the rebel Jack Cade raises a mob to march on London: Shakespeare draws parallels with Cade’s rabble and the Wars of the Roses being waged by the nobility.
HENRY VI, PART 3: Revenge runs throughout this play, as the bloody terror of civil war consumes England: Henry VI attempts peace by making the Duke of York his heir, but Queen Margaret continues to fight for her son, the Prince of Wales, to succeed as King. The Yorkists suffer defeat, but the quarreling sons of York (Edward, George, and Richard) progress to London to pursue the crown.
No previous Shakespeare experience is necessary. Come curious, bring your questions, and be ready to read, laugh, discuss, and discover.
*Signing up for this class gives you access to the live Henry VI class, as well as a recording of last month's class on The Taming of the Shrew. For future classes, you must sign up separately as they become available.
*This class will be recorded. By signing up, you consent to being recorded. The recording will only be shared with other students who sign up for classes in the Play By Play series.