One might just as well rely on Coronation Street for history as on Shakespeare. Like soap opera, these lesser-known plays thrive on infamy, infighting and infatuation with plenty of references to popular prejudice.

Written during Elizabeth I’s reign, the Catholic Church is plagued by corruption, while pious Joan, adored by the dauphin (and playwright – she is Cordelia with attitude), stands accused of witchcraft.

There were plenty of jokes about the French which, judging by the reaction of the audience, have stood the test of time.

Nick Bagnall’s clearsighted production has been touring battlefields. Two scaffolds dominated Ti Green’s strikingly economical set, the steel sounding with the clamour of war, while court scenes were a rainbow of silks paraded by the dastardly popinjays of power.

Guileless Harry’s throne, though comfortable enough, appeared as a light at the bottom of a very deep shaft. Politics being a restless tiring house, the cast dressed and re-dressed themselves, taking up arms and putting them down again all within view as the bloody scramble for power continued.

As cliffhangers to soap opera, so this episode ended with Suffolk plotting to rule the realm.