Shakespeare’s Histories
COMPANY UPDATE: Brave Spirits Theatre is deeply saddened to announce its closing, due to the closing of Shakespeare’s Histories and the inability to plan for future performances. BST’s final project will be audio recordings of the eight plays of Shakespeare’s Histories. READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT | SUPPORT THE HISTORIES AUDIO PROJECT
8 PLAYS
87 YEARS
5 KINGS
2 HOUSES
1 THRONE
Shakespeare’s epic eight play saga…
…captures the cyclical nature of violence and history, while showcasing poignant domestic stories of families and their divided loyalties. Each chapter in this saga is extraordinary in its own right; together, they become a theatrical event unlike any other. Over the 2020 and 2021 seasons, Brave Spirits Theatre is making history by becoming the first professional American theatre company to mount full productions of Shakespeare’s two history plays tetralogies and perform them in repertory. Performing near the nation’s capital, Brave Spirits brings a distinctly American stamp to these plays and stages them in the company’s signature actor-driven, intimate, and dark style.
BST’s Artistic Director Charlene V. Smith is the first woman in the world to lead a cyclical staging of these plays. Following BST’s mission and values, Shakespeare’s Histories is being considered through a specifically feminist lens, placing the two halves of the cycle in direct contrast.
January 2 – April 19, 2020
The King’s Shadow
Richard II | 1 Henry IV | 2 Henry IV | Henry V
The first four plays follow the troubled passing of the English crown from the philosopher King Richard II, to the conqueror King Henry IV, to his rogue son, Prince Hal. With his father’s deeds looming over him, Hal indulges in a reckless adolescence that tarnishes his reputation. But when the time comes to rule, Hal must take control of how history will remember him, unite his country, and become the legendary King Henry V.
The King’s Shadow is generously sponsored by Jason Aufdem-Brinke
December 31, 2020 – April 18, 2021
The Queen’s Storm
1 Henry VI | 2 Henry VI | 3 Henry VI | Richard III
The second four plays dive headfirst into the ferocious conflict spawned by a cruelly bought peace. Confronting the tempest is Margaret of Anjou, a princess from lands abroad who rises to become England’s queen. Faced with threats and treachery from every direction, Margaret’s is a tale of resilience, ambition and, finally, the very nature of evil, with the rise of Shakespeare’s most famous villain, King Richard III.
The Queen’s Storm is generously sponsored by Elizabeth Schweinsberg
Save Full Rep and Marathon Dates
Full Histories Rep: June 1 – June 27, 2021
Histories Marathons: July 1 – 11, 2021
Starting in June 2021, Brave Spirits will run all eight history plays together in repertory. Save dates for the month-long full rep and the marathon weeks, when you can experience the full 87-year epic in just four days!
View the Full Calendar
Meet the Company
Brave Spirits is pleased to host a company of artists from the DC area and beyond to bring Shakespeare’s history plays to life. Meet the acting ensemble and the creative team tackling this history-making project, and join them for post-show talkbacks and other audience engagement events throughout the process.
Meet the Histories CompanySpecial Support for the Histories
Shakespeare’s Histories is supported in part by the City of Alexandria, the Nora Roberts Foundation, the Virginia Commission for the Arts, The Morgan Fund at Seattle Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
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