Vidar Hjardeng MBE - RSC Henry VI Rebellion and the Wars of the Roses, Audio Described Theatre Review

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey is joined again by Vidar Hjardeng MBE, Inclusion and Diversity Consultant for ITV News across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands for the next in his regular Connect Radio audio described theatre reviews.

This week Vidar was reviewing a double bill of audio description at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon with Henry VI Rebellion and the Wars of the Roses on Saturday 30 April 2022 with audio description by RSC professional Describers Julia and Gethin (Henry VI Rebellion) and Ellie and Anette (Wars of the Roses).

Henry VI: Rebellion hurtles through one of the most turbulent periods in English history. With fighting and division in the corridors of power at an all-time high, ordinary men and women start to speak out. But as the people rise in protest, who is behind their rebellion?

In Wars of the Roses the tussle for the English crown escalates to the battlefield and the families of Lancaster and York drench their brutal conflict in sweat and blood. As power is shunted back and forth, there is deceit, betrayal and murder at every turn. The scene is set for the final chapter as we get our first glimpse of  the ambitious and manipulative Duke of Gloucester –  soon to become Richard III.

Vidar began by telling Toby that this was a full day of audio described Shakespeare for him at the RSC and the first of the Bard’s work since the start of the Covid pandemic with both Henry VI Rebellion and the Wars of the Roses. Vidar recalled seeing all three Henry VI Shakespeare plays at the Newcastle Theatre Royal with his Mum over 40 years ago when the RSC toured the productions around the country.  

Vidar explained that Both Henry VI Rebellion and the Wars of the Roses are a great way of getting into the turbulent time in English history during the Wars of the Roses.    

Henry VI Rebellion and the Wars of the Roses was the first AD performances for Vidar with a full touch tour attended by all four describers and good to have some of the actors join in with the very insightful touch tour which included, props, costumes and even severed heads too!

So a great full day of Shakespeare with audio description for Vidar at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon.

To find out more about the Royal Shakespeare Company and their audio described performances do visit the access pages of their website -