Imagine if Sex Education and Wolf Hall had a lovechild, and you’d get Ava Pickett’s 1536—a sharp, sassy, and surprisingly poignant play that brings Tudor gossip to life with a distinctly 21st-century bite.
Stuart and I went to the Almeida Theatre just off London’s glitzy Upper Street last Friday night to watch the bawdy action.
Set in a lush Essex field (complete with a tree that sees more action than a Love Island villa), three childhood friends -Anna, Jane, and Mariella - gather to dish on the latest court scandal: Queen Anne Boleyn’s arrest.
But as they chat, flirt, and squabble, the looming shadow of patriarchal power turns their playful banter into a chilling reflection on the dangers women face, then and now .
Siena Kelly’s Anna is a whirlwind of sensual energy, wielding her beauty like a weapon - until it backfires. Tanya Reynolds’ Mariella, the midwife with a dry wit, delivers lines like “Being friends with you is like being friends with a f***ing horse” with impeccable timing. And Liv Hill’s Jane is the embodiment of anxious ambition, teetering between innocence and steely resolve .
Director Lyndsey Turner keeps the pace brisk, balancing bawdy humour with moments of genuine dread. The minimalist set by Max Jones, all tall grasses and a much-utilized tree, serves as the perfect backdrop for the unfolding drama.
Sure, the play occasionally leans heavily on its feminist themes, and the final scenes might feel a tad overstuffed. But these are minor quibbles in an otherwise compelling production that cleverly bridges the gap between past and present .
1536 is a bold, bawdy, and biting exploration of female friendship and the enduring weight of misogyny. It’s history with a wink—and a well-aimed dagger. Catch it at the Almeida Theatre before it ends on June 7.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
