The first production in Bell Shakespeare’s 35th anniversary season in 2025 is a new contemporary staging of Henry 5, starring dynamic newcomer JK Kazzi in his highly anticipated mainstage theatre debut. Celebrated theatre maker and former Associate Artistic Director of Bell Shakespeare Marion Potts (Othello, Hamlet) returns to the company after 15 years to direct.

Potts lends a female perspective to this story centred on young men going to war, written by a male playwright and most often the domain of male directors. The play explores themes of masculine bravery and heroism, which Potts approaches with nuance, exposing the complexities of the characters and questioning the costs of war as Henry is hailed a warrior and a hero.