Bring Up The Bodies...

Last night Stuart and I went to see Bring Up The Bodies at the Aldwych Theatre in London's glitzy West End.

This is the second of the two plays (the first being Wolf Hall that we saw the previous night) adapted by Mike Poulton from Hilary Mantel's two Man Booker Prize winning novels.

Henry VIII is still desperate for a male heir. And due to a miscarriage Anne Boleyn can't give him the prince he so desperately craves. By 1536, Henry has started courting Jane Seymour and he wants Anne out of the way. He enlists Thomas Cromwell's help and what follows is then a miscarriage of justice as Anne Boleyn is falsely accused of multiple infidelities and heads to The Tower.

Slightly darker in tone than Wolf Hall this is another great production with strong performances all round.

Roll on part III - The Mirror and the Light.

Wolf Hall...

Last night Stuart and I went to see Wolf Hall at the Aldwych Theatre in London's glitzy West End.

Directed by Royal Court Associate Director Jeremy Herrin, the play has been adapted by Mike Poulton from the first of Hilary Mantel's two Man Booker Prize winning novels.

England in 1527. Henry VIII has been King for almost 20 years and is desperate for a male heir. Intent on divorce he demands that Cardinal Wolsey persuade the Pope to grant him an annulment. With every month that passes without progress the King's anger grows. Into this volatile court enters the commoner Thomas Cromwell.

A one-time mercenary, master-politician, lawyer and doting father, he sets out to grant the King his desire whilst methodically and ruthlessly pursuing his own reforming agenda.

We loved the production - it was both enlightening and funny.

Tonight we are going to see the second half - Bring Up The Bodies. Can't wait!