TV The Wars of the Roses The Wars of the Roses 9/10 by 1 users The Wars of the Roses was a 1963 theatrical adaptation of William Shakespeare's first historical tetralogy (1 Henry VI, 2 Henry VI, 3 Henry VI & Richard III), which deals with the conflict between the House of Lancaster & the House of York over the throne of England, a conflict known as the Wars of the Roses. The plays were adapted by John Barton, and directed by Barton himself & Peter Hall at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. The plays were heavily politicized, with Barton and Hall allowing numerous contemporaneous events of the early 1960s to inform their adaptation. The production was a huge critical & commercial success, and is generally regarded as revitalizing the reputation of the Henry VI plays in the modern theatre. Many critics feel The Wars of the Roses set a standard for future productions of the tetralogy which has yet to be surpassed. The 1965 broadcast was so successful that they were shown again, as 11 episodes, each 50 minutes long, in 1966. Details Casts Posters Images Title The Wars of the Roses Alternative Titles First Air Date 1965-04-08 Last Air Date 1965-04-22 Number of Episodes 0 Number of Seasons 1 Genres , Networks BBC One, Casts David Warner, Peggy Ashcroft, Donald Burton, Alan Tucker, David Hargreaves, Brewster Mason, Charles Kay, Roy Dotrice, William Squire, Roger Jones, John Normington Plot Keywords , King Henry VI David Warner Queen Margaret Peggy Ashcroft Exeter Donald Burton Prince Edward Alan Tucker Norfolk / Third Citizen David Hargreaves Warwick Brewster Mason Clarence / The Dauphin Charles Kay King Edward IV / Jack Cade / Edward Roy Dotrice Buckingham / Suffolk William Squire Second Citutzen / Second Watch / Third Watch Roger Jones Young Clifford / Bedford / Simpcox John Normington Somerset / 2nd Murderer Philip Brack Richard Ian Holm Burgundy / Hastings Hugh Sullivan Smith / First Watch / First Citizen Marshall Jones Messenger / Messenger to York / 3rd Messenger Anthony Boden