ANDY HEDGECOCK is entertained by a playful novel that embeds a fictional game at its heart
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1536
Ambassadors Theatre, London
★★★★☆
THIS intriguing story, set against the background of the demise in 1536 of Queen Anne Boleyn, takes on many ageless themes, not least among these is the power inequality between men and women. The old secrets-and-lies formula also lies at the heart of the narrative.
So, the story centres on Anna (Siena Kelly), Jane (Liv Hill) and Mariella (Tanya Reynolds) and their interchanges with each other and the two men, Richard (Oliver Johnstone) and William (George Kemp).
Everything takes place in a cleverly designed set, comprising a teasel rich field, with a tree — regularly used for shagging between Anna and Richard. Max Jones’s set and Jack Knowles lighting enable the changing nature of the story all to be captured in the field context. Very clever.
Kelly, Hill and Reynolds bring a great energy and chemistry to Ava Pickett’s script. The interchanges are explosive, switching from solidarity to betrayal in rapid succession. The references to the accusations of treason against the Queen are discussed by the women, while they are thrown into situations of similar disempowerment.
Strong-willed Anna attempts to take control but ends up being dismissed as a loose woman. Desperate Jane is in an abusive marriage with Richard, who beats her and regularly comes for sex with Anna. The men are in charge, the women seeking just to survive.
Director Lyndsey Turner does an excellent job setting the interplay between the three women in the context of the wider power play between Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. The inequality and resulting abuse reflects relations at the time but also stretches down the ages to today.
There is also a good helping of humour to lighten the load.
1536 first ran at the Almeida theatre last year but has now transferred to the Ambassadors for a 13-week run. The BBC has commissioned Pickett to adapt the play for television, which will be interesting.
This is the excellent adaptation of an all-too-familiar story that runs down through the centuries. Well worth seeing.
Runs until August 1. Box office: (020) 7206-1174, theambassadorstheatre.co.uk.
