According to Dugald Bruce-Lockhart, the secret to understanding Shakespeare is contained within the text itself.

“What I always say to people is that you don’t need to read the play before you come and see the show,” says the actor, who is taking the lead role in all-male company Propellor’s version of Shakespeare’s wartime tale.

“You don’t need to worry about it, let the text wash over you.

“The particular gift of our director Edward Hall [son of Sir Peter] is to bring out the sense of narrative so it sounds like modern thought or modern English.

If you embrace the poetry of the language it becomes even more understandable. Shakespeare isn’t naturalistically written. What our company is particularly strong at is the delivery of the verse.”

This touring version of Henry V is marking the 15th anniversary of Propellor, who have moved from being based at Bagnor’s Watermill Theatre in Berkshire, to award-winning tours all over the world.

But it was Henry V which started it all.

“We approached the text as an ensemble,” says Bruce-Lockhart.

“The storytelling device is a group of soldiers based outside the framework of the narrative.

“They are retiring from war in a safehouse when they find the crown of a great hero, Henry V, and become the characters to tell the story.”

The company has returned to their original production and enhanced it for this tour.

“It is a much more developed and detailed version than we did before,” says Bruce-Lockhart.

“We now have budgets that we didn’t have before – there will be some things that others might recognise, but it’s more fully realised.”

There is also the chance to comment on the changes in the world since 1997.

“Critics of Henry have said whenever you fight in the name of God that is a holy jihad,” says Bruce-Lockhart.

“Henry’s war was about proving himself to the whole of England after his father took the throne by deposing Richard II.

“There are plenty of references and relevances to modern war. The basis at the heart of current conflicts is a clash between Christians and Muslims, or the West and the East – fundamentally a difference in faith is a holy war.”

The soldiers device means all characters, male and female, have to be played by men – something Propellor found actually enhanced the storytelling, and retained for all their subsequent productions.

“In the comedies it brings out the bawdy humour, which would be less bawdy if you played it with men and women,” says Bruce-Lockhart.

“It also allows the audience to use their imaginations more – if you have a man dressed as a woman you accept it and listen to the language more. Once the audience suspend their disbelief you can do anything.

“It means we can be physically rougher and more extreme in places.”

The fact it is two men playing opposite each other in one memorable wooing scene between Henry and French princess Cathe rine Of Valois, adds greater scope for comedy, and also allows the company to have fun with the text.

Propellor’s productions have been described as less of a play and more of an experience.

“We like to create an event,” says Bruce-Lockhart.

“In the interval we come out and sing songs to the audience at the bar, and collect money for charity.

“It is a full-on theatrical experience for three hours.”

This tour also sees the company perform another Shakespeare favourite, The Winter’s Tale, in rep. After the rigours of playing a lead role, Bruce- Lockhart plays the unfortunate Antigonus – the character with arguably the most famous Shakespearian stage direction: “Exit, pursued by a bear”.

“Being an all-male company it does feel like being in a touring football team at times,” admits Bruce-Lockhart.

“Most of the time it is like a family.

“We have come a long way in this company – it is good to come back to Henry V now.”

* Tuesday, November 15 to Saturday, November 19, 7.45pm, 2.30pm matinees on Thurs and Sat, tickets from £15, 0844 8717650