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Anne Boleyn

Lover. Heretic. Revolutionary. Queen. Read more …

Compelling, witty and often laugh-out-loud funny, this celebration of Anne Boleyn leaps cunningly between generations to expose the life and legacy of Henry VIII’s notorious second wife.

Anne Boleyn is traditionally seen either as a pawn manipulated into the King’s bed, or as a sexually licentious predator, even a witch. But Howard Brenton puts a very different Anne – and her ghost – on the stage. Witty and confident in her sexuality, she takes on the vicious world of Tudor Court politics. She is in love with Henry but also in love with the most dangerous ideas of her day. Conspiring with the exiled William Tyndale, Anne plots to make England Protestant for ever.

Following two sell-out London seasons, ETT and Shakespeare’s Globe, join forces to stage this vivid and vibrant production;  gripping, rich in humour and shot through with sublime chamber music and visual imagery. Unmissable.


The critical consensus

For all the dark historical romance of dusky silks and John Donne lyrics set to live music, what really propels this touring version is Marxist playwright Howard Brenton’s startling freshness of vision.

Bella Todd, The Stage, 05/04/2012

A triumph in the way it brings the drama of history to life.

*****Thom Dibdin, Annals of Edinburgh Stage, 09/05/2012

You can see why the original Globe theatre production of Anne Boleyn sold out, and why Howard Brenton’s iconoclastic re-imagining of Henry VIII’s second wife was subsequently sent on a tour of the UK: the show is a hands down, no-arguments crowd-pleaser.

****(*)Miles Fielder, The List, 09/05/2012

Brenton’s production moves seamlessly between tenderness and tension and laugh out loud humour.

Phyllis Stephen, The Edinburgh Reporter, 10/05/2012

Brenton's play is large scale in production terms but also in ideas - irreverant, illuminating and enormouly entertaining.

****(*)Keith Paterson, WhatsOnStage.com, 10/05/2012

Definitely one to file under Must See.

Alan Chadwick, STV, 10/05/2012

This is a very entertaining history lesson, despite losing laughs during the second act, but it’s little more than that.

James T Harding, The Scotsman, 10/05/2012

There’s no doubt that John Dove’s eloquent and flowing production offers a superb evening’s entertainment, for those who enjoy gripping drama, fine words, and generous production values.

****(*)Joyce McMillan, 10/05/2012


Features about Anne Boleyn

Anne Boleyn from playwright Howard Brenton examines Tudor dynasty

Alex Johnston, The List, 17/04/2012

Where and when?

Festival Theatre, Edinburgh from Tuesday May 8, 2012, until Saturday May 12, 2012. More info: http://www.edtheatres.com/festival

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