 Shaw appeared in regional theatres in Bristol , Liverpool and Hull . In 1925 , he performed in London as the Archangel in The Sign of the Sun , and played first Lewis Dodd and then the Major in separate productions of The Constant Nymph . He received instruction in verse speaking under famed theatre director William Bridges @-@ Adams in the Stratford Festival Company at Stratford @-@ upon @-@ Avon , where he played some of his early Shakespeare roles , including Romeo in Romeo and Juliet , Ferdinand in The Tempest and Prince Hal in Henry IV in 1926 . He was criticised for the audacity he displayed in the latter role . When Prince Hal takes on his kingship and rejects the self @-@ indulgent character Falstaff , convention of the day called for Prince Hal to change from a jovial drinking partner to an arrogant snob , but Shaw saw the view as simple @-@ minded and contradictory toward Shakespeare 's script . Instead , he displayed inward regrets about leaving Falstaff and accepting the new responsibilities . The interpretation was criticised at the time but , years later , became the standard approach to the character . 
