To call Oxford Theatre Guild’s new production of Shakespeare’s Henry VI innovative would be a mighty understatement. There’s been a complete reversal of genders, with the men played by women and vice versa. Also, there are no Parts 1, 2 and 3 – the trilogy has been condensed from around ten hours of theatre to just under two-and-a- half hours. Wielding the scalpel has been the production’s director, Alistair Nunn. How has he decided what to include, and what to leave out?

“I’ve seen Henry VI as a exciting political thriller, centred round one man’s life – with romance, murder, and action as well,” he explains. “Once you’ve identified Henry as the main player, then you bring in the key people around him. So when you’ve streamlined it into telling those people’s stories – and their rivalries and struggles for the Crown – a lot of it falls into place.”

And how about the gender reversal? Is there an element of cocking a snook at all-male Shakespeare companies like Propeller?

“That hadn’t really crossed my mind,” Alistair laughs. “I think all-male Shakespeare can miss a trick because, particularly in a play like this, there are a lot of issues around macho posturing and masculine identity. But women are usually more mature than men, so that gives the audience a chance to see the plays in a new light – and discover how awfully a lot of these characters behave.”

Playing King Henry is Lindsey-Anne Bridges. How is she characterising him?

“I know that he’s sometimes played as a saint, and on other occasions he’s been portrayed as openly mad,” she says. “These two aspects interested me, but I haven’t tried to stress them as fundamental aspects of the character. Instead I’m trying to play him very humanely and truthfully as a man whose father overshadows him, and who feels surrounded by enemies.”

The meaty role of Richard Plantagenet, later Richard III, goes to actress Chloe Orrock. It’s an opportunity, I suggest, that she can never have dreamt would come her way. “Funnily enough, the first play I did properly was Richard III. I remember watching the guy playing him, and thinking: ‘What an incredible character’. It’s really awesome that I’ve now got the chance to play him myself. There are some nice fights too, which female actors don’t often get to do!”