Katherine Howard
From 15 April 2002
To 20 April 2002
by William Nicholson
Description
Romance, comedy, political intrigue, plots and betrayals all form part of this entertaining and thoughtful play. William Nicholson, the author of Shadowlands, takes a slice of Tudor history and turns it into pure theatrical magic.
Director's Notes
Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded...... The Fates of Henry VIII's wives are well known to us from this mantra that we are able to recite from an early age. But aside from the dedicated enthusiast, our knowledge extended only a little further, most likely a perception of the obese and ageing king based on the famous Holbein portrait and the gigantic suit of armour on display in the Tower of London. Recently, however there has been an upsurge of interest in the Tudor era in general and in the consorts of Henry in particular. In books and on television, the six wives are presented as intriguing individuals in their own right rather than as merely appendages to the old monster.
The events of 1540 were frantic even by the standards of Henry's reign. Following the death of Jane Seymour in 1538, the search for a new Queen was to epitomise the religious struggle that was a feature of court life. The protestant reformers led by Thomas Cranmer, the Archbishop of Canterbury, were keen to promote Anne of Cleves, a small duchy in the lower Rhine with impeccable Protestant credentials. Unfairly remembered for posterity as the Flanders Mare, Anna's strict upbringing, nevertheless, left her painfully ignorant and ill equipped for court life.
It is the politics and intrigue of this course of events that provides the backdrop for William Nicholson's play but although our attention is on the grand stage, Nicholson's main concern is for the human story that is at its heart. Although the dress is as authentic to the period as we are able to achieve, the language is modern and this allows us to engage with intense emotions of a Katherine and Culpeper and the frailties and insecurities of the once powerful King. Henry's intense love for his young Queen and his pain when he realises that he has lost her makes it clear that this is the same writer who created such a vivid portrayal of C S Lewis in Shadowlands.
The enthusiasm with which the company as a whole has tackled this project reflects the high regards felt for such an outstanding piece of work by a major writer. Lines were quickly learned, costumes eagerly tried on and the construction of an elaborate set and complex lighting and sound plots have been approached with a dedication that is a credit to all those involved. The exploration of the script and the history that supports it has been a fascinating experience for the cast and the crew. We hope you will find our interpretations every bit as enjoyable.