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The Histories, a fistful of plays by William Shakespeare popularly known as the History Cycle, opened in Stratford-Upon-Avon back in 2006 to critical acclaim and rapturous audience response.

When Michael Boyd embarked on this epic production he was doing what no other British theatre director had ever done.

History was in the making and the Royal Shakespeare Company would be the first to undertake this type of theatrical experiment.

Boyd would be working with a company of 34 actors, each expected to play and understudy at least 14 parts.

This would require 90 weeks of rehearsals using the same production team for an extended period of time: no ordinary theatrical feat.

Boyd was on a mission that would forever change the way theatre was produced.

Boyd, whose original idea was to ‘explore contemporary African history with a complete African company and address civil wars and dictators, said:

“I thought there were too many things I wanted to say about England and there were English actors I wanted to bring on board.”

It was also his way of breaking away from the norm of the current theatre landscape:

“It was an opportunity to change the way we work and reassert the value of making art collectively, to break away from the celebrity culture of star casting and work with a group of people who know they are going to have to live with each other for two and half years, and therefore, they know they are going to have to behave better with each other and help each other.”

Over the last two years, members of the ensemble have come to know and respect each others craft on the live stage.

Boyd’s wish to directly and viscerally engage with both audience and cast has been fulfilled. He said:

Hence, he does not mind it being described as an experiment:

“I suppose it’s a bit of a social experiment, but also, it’s bringing together, some very powerful individuals and asking them to make room for each other.”

A viewpoint shared by Ann Ogbomo, who plays the role of Queen Elizabeth in Richard III and describes the experience as:

“Exciting and nurturing. It’s one where we have all come in to do this job and we have all been part of this crazy project. I think over time, we have all molded what the project is as well as the project being what it was. I think all of us ended up shaping it and learning as we went along. I describe it as a nurturing creative process.”

Chuk Iwuji, who takes on the lead role of Henry VI in Parts I, II and III added:

“A lot of these experiences have been unique. I literally can’t compare it to anything else because nothing else and possibly nothing else in theatre, can possibly match something like this.”

The actors have gone through significant changes in the last two years.

However, they are not alone. The Roundhouse theatre, the London venue for The Histories, has also gone through its own metamorphosis and has been adapted to look like the Courtyard stage back in Stratford-Upon-Avon.

However, it is a change that is most welcome. Marcus Davey, chief executive of the Roundhouse said:

“The Roundhouse is a highly adaptable space and has enjoyed thrilling ground breaking performances in music, circus, dance and physical theatre since opening in June 2006. The RSC has now proved that the Roundhouse can be a stunning performance space for spoken word theatre.”

Without a doubt, the process has also had its fair share of challenges but there are members of the ensemble, such as Iwuji, who say this is the highlight of their career to date:

“It’s been really challenging but if you want a summation of it, it’s been the most joyfully, challenging, frustrating and enlightening experience of my life. I think that just encapsulates professional life anyway.”

Described as a man of intellectual rigour and real powers of leadership, Boyd is highly respected by his actors who will hold on to the useful advice he has given to them in the course of the last two years. Ogbomo said:

“I am going to take away Michael Boyd’s notes. We can’t escape them. We are still having them till this day. I think he is amazing with actors.” 

Boyd’s notes are not all she is taking away. She added:

“I am going to take away the way that people work here, the way it has been a group experience, the collaboration, the input that people have and the generosity. I am going to take away some very deep things as far as working with other people go and other actors go, it has been an enriching process but I think Michael has been the driving force of that, and his way of working has affected all of us in this company. I think we are all going to take something away as better actors in my opinion, I absolutely do believe that.”

The Histories is at the Roundhouse until 25 May