IF A sad tale’s best for winter, a salutary one is apt post-Brexit.

The Castle Players cannot have foreseen how their choice for Shakespeare’s anniversary year would so resonate.

England and Wales united while “weasely” Scots plot; French mockery confident England will “crouch down with fear and yield”; division and debate in high places and alehouse; union with and subsequent loss of European neighbour.

In contrast to comedy and high jinks of recent productions, this year’s open air offering runs steadfastly on simple wooden circular stage and with minimum props.

The mood under Laurence Sach’s direction is sombre, highlighting uncertainty at royal court, brawling over banter among commoners, and the reality of war in brutally chilling speeches.

As Chorus, Gordon Duffy-McGhie magnificently fulfils Shakespeare’s brief to make the audience imagine an army on the move and deal with passage of time and place.

Steven Bainbridge’s Henry V is thoughtful. His diction, like that of the rest of the cast, is clear, though he could adopt a more stirring tone at times, especially in his battlefield rally to men weakened by sickness and fear.

Team drumming creates tension at key moments, and the sound effect of arrows issuing forth over the French is good in the Agincourt scene. Ranks of foot soldiers giving way to the phalanx of archers is well devised, as is the choreographed slow motion sword combat.

The large cast has a lot of women playing men, exact opposite of Shakespeare’s day, but they assume masculine posture and the costumes help.

Outstanding performances include young Ethan Rawlins, bright and smart as A Boy, his killing truly shocking, illustrating French war crime butchery; Ben Pearson’s belligerent Pistol; Trudi Dixon as Nell Quickly sadly recounting Falstaff’s death; and light-relief Libby Harding as coyly hopeful Princess Katharine. Performances to July 9.

Pru Farrier