Wolf Hall Parts One & Two
2023 play adaptation by Mike Poulton
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Wolf Hall Parts One & Two (originally titled Wolf Hall & Bring Up The Bodies) is a two-part play based on Hilary Mantel's novels Wolf Hall (2009) and Bring Up the Bodies (2013), adapted for the stage by Mike Poulton. Set in the period from 1500 to 1535, Wolf Hall is a sympathetic fictionalised biography documenting the rapid rise to power of Thomas Cromwell in the court of Henry VIII through to the death of Sir Thomas More.
Mike Poulton (play)
Bring Up the Bodies
| Wolf Hall Parts One & Two | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Hilary Mantel (novels) Mike Poulton (play) |
| Based on | Wolf Hall Bring Up the Bodies |
| Subject | the rise of Thomas Cromwell |
| Setting | Sixteenth century England |
| Premiere | |
| Date | 11 December 2013 |
| Place | Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon |
Production history
Stratford-upon-Avon and West End (2013-14)
In January 2013, the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) announced that it would stage adaptations by Mike Poulton of Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies in its Winter season in the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon beginning previews from 11 December 2013, with press performances on 8 January 2014, running until 29 March.[1] The production transferred to London's Aldwych Theatre from 1 May 2014, for a limited run until 4 October (extended from 6 September due to popular demand).[2]
Broadway (2015)
Producers Jeffrey Richards and Jerry Frankel brought the London productions of Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies, starring Ben Miles as Thomas Cromwell, Lydia Leonard as Anne Boleyn, Lucy Briers as Katherine of Aragon, and Nathaniel Parker as Henry VIII, to Broadway's Winter Garden Theatre[3] beginning previews from 20 March with an opening night on 9 April 2015, for a 15-week run until 5 July. The double-bill was re-titled Wolf Hall Parts One & Two for American audiences.[4] The play was nominated for 8 Tony Awards, including Best Play.
Characters and original cast
| Character | Royal Shakespeare Company (2013) |
West End (2014) |
Broadway (2015) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Smeaton | Joey Batey | ||
| Charles Brandon | Nicholas Boulton | ||
| Katherine of Aragon Jane Boleyn |
Lucy Briers | ||
| Princess Mary Jane Seymour Lady Worcester |
Leah Brotherhead | ||
| Lizzie Wykys Mary Boleyn Mary Shelton |
Olivia Darnley | ||
| Thomas Howard | Nicholas Day | ||
| Gregory Cromwell | Daniel Fraser | ||
| George Boleyn Edward Seymour |
Oscar Pearce | Edward Harrison | |
| Margery Seymour Lady-in-waiting Maid |
Madeleine Hyland | ||
| Sir John Seymour Thomas Wolsey Archbishop Warham Sir William Kingston |
Paul Jesson | ||
| Anne Boleyn | Lydia Leonard | ||
| Thomas Cromwell | Ben Miles | ||
| Christophe Francis Weston |
Pierro Niel-Mee | ||
| King Henry VIII | Nathaniel Parker | ||
| Stephen Gardiner Eustache Chapuys |
Matthew Pidgeon | ||
| Henry Norris Thomas More |
John Ramm | ||
| Harry Percy William Brereton |
Nicholas Shaw | ||
| Rafe Sadler | Alexander Cobb | Joshua Silver | |
| Thomas Boleyn Thomas Cranmer French Ambassador |
Giles Taylor | ||
| Thomas Wyatt Headsman |
Jay Taylor | ||
| Wolsey's Servant Servant Barge-Master |
N/a | Benedict Hastings | |
Awards and nominations
Original London production
| Year | Award Ceremony | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Evening Standard Theatre Awards | |||
| Best Director | Jeremy Herrin | Won | ||
| Best Actor | Ben Miles | Nominated | ||
| 2015 | WhatsOnStage Awards | Best New Play | Nominated | |
| Best Supporting Actor in a Play | Nathaniel Parker | Nominated | ||
| Laurence Olivier Awards | Best New Play | Nominated | ||
| Best Director | Jeremy Herrin | Nominated | ||
| Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Nathaniel Parker | Won | ||
| Best Costume Design | Christopher Oram | Won | ||
| Best Lighting Design | Paule Constable and David Plater | Nominated | ||
Original Broadway production
See also
- Cultural depictions of Henry VIII
- The Mirror and the Light – 2021 stage adaptation of the final part of Mantel's trilogy, adapted by Mantel and Ben Miles.
