THE audience at Abingdon’s Unicorn Theatre are set to find themselves in the thick of the battle when it stages a production of William Shakespeare’s Henry V.

Transformed into an in-the-round performance space by Abingdon Drama Club, the medieval setting will play host to the Bard’s recreation of the horror and the glory of one of the most remarkable battles in British history.

As well as marking the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt, the performances of Shakespeare's historical epic from Wednesday to Saturday, March 25 to 28, will celebrate 70 years since the club’s first production.

Terry Atkinson takes the lead role of Henry V whose famous rousing speech beginning ‘Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; Or close the wall up with our English dead.’ and ending ‘Follow your spirit, and upon this charge Cry ‘God for Harry, England, and Saint George!’ inspired the English to victory despite being outnumbered five to one.

The play is set in the early 15th century when England is in turmoil following the death of Henry IV and the after-effects of bitter civil wars. A young King Henry V knows he must pull his country together and change his reputation, at home and abroad, where he is known for his wild antics.

Determined to prove his right to rule the country, he is also persuaded by his lords and bishops that through distant ancestors he is also the rightful heir of the French crown.

When the French Dauphin sends an insulting message, Henry declares war. Against all the odds, the English seize the town of Harfleur and march across France. Finally, they meet the French army at Agincourt.

Although the club is staging the play in its correct time period unlike other productions which have given it a contemporary setting, that has not prevented it from using many modern special effects. Projections, sound and lighting will be used to put the theatre-goers in the midst of the action.

Henry V was one of the first plays that the production’s director Mike Ward saw at the tender age of five.

“I didn’t understand all the language, but I didn’t need to,” he said, “The story was so clear and the action was overwhelming. It has always been on my list of shows I wanted to direct.”

Ward said: “You can do lots of different things when staging Shakespeare. I have seen versions of Henry V set in a modern Iraq-like war and in a football changing room.

“But, for me, Henry V really does work best when it is staged in its correct time period. The ADC production won’t be exactly, historically accurate but there will be plenty of 15th-century atmosphere, particularly as it will be staged in the wonderful old Unicorn Theatre which, in part, dates back to the same time.

“Staging and rehearsing Henry V is very tricky. The Unicorn Theatre, even with an extended stage, is still a small place for such a large cast.”

The production has proved a challenge for the club, with the cast not only having to learn their lines but also take on stage-fighting skills. The production team has also been in overdrive, creating many costumes and weapons.

John Hawkins plays the King of France and Laura King the Dauphin. Hawkins also plays the comically-stereotyped Welsh soldier Fluellen and the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Introducing each act as the Chorus (narrator) is Andrea Mardon while Kieran Piggott plays common soldier Pistol.

The 30-plus cast also includes: Bishop of Ely and Erpingham (David Hodson); Exeter (Tony Green); Westmoreland (Tim Mean); French ambassador (Maria Crocker); attendants (Carey Bennington and Kirsty Heffernan); common soldiers Bardolph and Nym (Ted Clarke and Maria Crocker); Hostess, Macmorris and Queen Isabel (Lynne Smith); Boy (Carey Bennington); Scroop and York (George Towersey); Cambridge and Michael Williams (Oliver Barnett); Grey and Duke of Orleans (Kaylee Corcoran); Constable of France (Liz Adams); French Messengers and English Heralds (Carey Bennington and Kirsty Heffernan); Gower and Montjoy (Lee Orchard); Katherine (Anita Gabau); Alice (Geraldine Hodson); Duke of Bourbon (Cordelia Williams); Gloucester (Ted Clarke); John Bates (Pam Aird).

The four performances start at 7.30pm. Tickets are £10 and £8 concessions for students and over-60s and can be bought from The Bookstore, Abingdon, by email at tickets@unicornboxoffice.org.uk or by calling 0845 4636638.