PARALLELS with present-day global politics can be seen in a production of William Shakespeare’s iconic play Henry V at Didcot’s Cornerstone Arts Centre.

The Bard’s history drama will be brought to life by Oxfordshire company BMH Productions and tells how political pressure forces the young King Henry into an unpopular war with the French. But can he lead his soldiers to victory in an unforgiving conflict?

Following their performance at Cornerstone, BMH will take the show to the outdoor Dell Theatre at Stratford-upon-Avon this summer by invitation of the Royal Shakespeare Company as part of its summer arts festival.

The company, which produced and rehearsed the play at Cornerstone, is staging five performances from tonight until Saturday at 7.30pm, with an additional 2pm matinée on Saturday. Tickets at £14, £12.50 concessions, are available from the Cornerstone box office in person or on 01235 515144, or can be booked at www.cornerstone-arts.org Part of the proceeds from the production will go to the William and Grace Trust, a charity helping service personnel who have been victims of improvised explosive devices in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Previously, BMH has also helped the Royal British Legion and the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

The cast and crew of the Henry V productions are all drawn from Abingdon, Didcot and Oxford, with the exception of one Australian living in Oxford.

The director is Ed Blagrove, from Abingdon, who has directed many shows for companies around Oxfordshire, including the Oxford and Abingdon operatic societies.

He set up BMH five years ago with three friends, Ashley Harvey, Emrys Matthews and Costa Cambanaki, to provide opportunities for Oxfordshire people to perform on a professional stage and to get experience in the arts, both on and off the stage.

Creative director Harvey said: “We give people from all over Oxfordshire the chance to do what they love doing and we try to support all of our members as many of them try to forge a career in the arts.

“We offer experience in all elements of putting on a production, from producing to acting, directing and marketing. Many of our past members are now working successfully in the arts, are at drama schools and are also performing throughout England and even in the West End.”

He said: “We do not receive any Arts Council funding and have managed to survive this tough climate by relying solely on ticket sales and through the occasional sponsorship of some local companies (Kemp and Kemp are kindly supporting the production of Henry V).

“Another key point is that, unlike other companies, we do not charge any money for people to be in the company. We charge no subsidy fees whatsoever, we just ask for dedication, a positive attitude and a will to work hard.”

The cast list is: Fluellen — Edward Blagrove, of Abingdon; Henry V — Rob Stringer; John Williams — Edd Bird, of Wantage; Michael Bates — Dominic Short: Pistol — Andy Blagrove, of Abingdon; Prince Dauphin — Duncan Blagrove, of Upper Heyford; Chorus —Richard Grecian, of Didcot, Constable — Daniel Halsall, of Wallingford; John, Duke of Lancaster — Jonathan Drummond; Montjoy the Herald — Alex Williams, of Didcot; Mistress Quickly/Princess Katharine — Rachel Wilmshurst, of Abingdon; King Henry IV/King of France — Alistair Nunn; Westmoreland/Chorus — Jessica Murphy; Bardolph — George Readshaw; Duke of Exeter — Ashley Harvey; Falstaff/The Gower —James Lord; Scroop/Orleans — Joseph Harrison; Gloucester/ Chorus — Iara Calton.