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The Wars of the Roses

The Wars of the Roses was a 1963 theatrical adaptation of William Shakespeare's first historical tetralogy (1 Henry VI, 2 Henry VI, 3 Henry VI & Richard III), which deals with the conflict between the House of Lancaster & the House of York over the throne of England, a conflict known as the Wars of the Roses. The plays were adapted by John Barton, and directed by Barton himself & Peter Hall at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. The plays were heavily politicized, with Barton and Hall allowing numerous contemporaneous events of the early 1960s to inform their adaptation. The production was a huge critical & commercial success, and is generally regarded as revitalizing the reputation of the Henry VI plays in the modern theatre. Many critics feel The Wars of the Roses set a standard for future productions of the tetralogy which has yet to be surpassed. The 1965 broadcast was so successful that they were shown again, as 11 episodes, each 50 minutes long, in 1966.

Episodes

Cast

Season 1

"The Inheritance"

1. "The Inheritance"

6th Jan 1966

1 Henry VI Acts 1, 2, 3 and Act 4, Scene 1 (Henry choosing a red rose and inadvertently aligning himself with Somerset).

"Margaret of Anjou"

2. "Margaret of Anjou"

13th Jan 1966

1 Henry VI Act 4, Scene 2 (Lord Talbot confronting the French general at Harfleur), and the first half of Act 1, Scene 1 of 2 Henry VI (up to Henry and Margaret leaving the court).

"The Lord Protector"

3. "The Lord Protector"

20th Jan 1966

The second half of Act 1, Scene 1 of 2 Henry VI (Gloucester unburdening his concerns to the court) and the rest of Act 1, Act 2 and Act 3, Scene 1 (York's soliloquy regarding the fact he now has troops at his disposal, and his revelation of his plans to use Jack Cade to instigate a popular rebellion).

"The Council Board"

4. "The Council Board"

27th Jan 1966

2 Henry VI Act 3, Scene 2 to Act 4, Scene 8 (beginning with the aftermath of Humphrey's murder, and concluding with Jack Cade's forces abandoning him).

"The Fearful King"

5. "The Fearful King"

3rd Feb 1966

2 Henry VI Act 4, Scene 9 (Henry pardoning those who abandoned Jack Cade) and 3 Henry VI Act 1 and Act 2, Scene 1 (Warwick rallying Edward, Richard and Clarence after the death of their father).

"The Kingmaker"

6. "The Kingmaker"

10th Feb 1966

3 Henry VI Act 2, Scene 2 to Act 3, Scene 3 (beginning with the arrival of the House of Lancaster to York, and concluding with Warwick's avowal to remove Edward from the throne and restore Henry).

"Edward of York"

7. "Edward of York"

17th Feb 1966

3 Henry VI Act 3, Scene 4 to Act 5, Scene 5 (beginning with George abandoning Edward in protest at his marriage to Lady Grey, and concluding with the death of Prince Edward and the Yorkist victory at the Battle of Tewkesbury).

"The Prophetess"

8. "The Prophetess"

24th Feb 1966

3 Henry VI Act 5, Scene 6 (Richard murdering Henry) and Richard III Act 1, Scenes 1, 2 and 3 (Richard sending two murderers to kill George).

"Richard of Gloucester"

9. "Richard of Gloucester"

3rd Mar 1966

Richard III Act 1, Scene 4 to Act 3, Scene 4 (beginning with George's murder, and concluding with the arrest of Hastings).

"Richard the King"

10. "Richard the King"

10th Mar 1966

Richard III Act 3, Scene 5 to Act 5, Scene 1 (beginning with the Lord Mayor arriving to implore Richard to become King, and concluding with the death of Buckingham).

"Henry Tudor"

11. "Henry Tudor"

17th Mar 1966

Richard III Act 5, Scene 2 onwards (Richmond's arrival in England).

First air date

6th Jan 1966

Last air date

17th Mar 1966

Status

Ended

Type

Scripted

Original language

en

Networks