by Howard Brenton. Directed by Michael Reilly.
Wednesday 22 to Saturday 25 July and
Tuesday 28 July to Saturday 1 August at 7.30pm
Matinées on Saturdays 25 July and 1 August at 3pm.
At the Tower Theatre, Stoke Newington
Love changes everything…
When James I stumbles onto the troubled throne of England he finds himself – despite the comforts of earthly pleasure – haunted by the ghost of a notorious Queen.
Who was Anne Boleyn?
Blue-blooded upstart, harlot, schemer, and heretical witch? Or something more extraordinary – conspirator, evangelist, trailblazing feminist and martyr for a mysteriously divine cause? This was the woman who took on Henry VIII, Thomas Cromwell, Cardinal Wolsey, Pope Clement VII and, well… almost won.
England would never be the same again.
Commissioned for Shakespeare’s Globe in 2010, Howard Brenton’s acclaimed drama takes us on a journey to the very heart of the Boleyn enigma, with its wonderfully modern tale of love, lust, power, menace, and darkly satirical humour.
Buy Tickets
Wednesday 22 July at 7.30pm
Thursday 23 July at 7.30pm
Friday 24 July at 7.30pm
Saturday 25 July at 3pm
Saturday 25 July at 7.30pm
Tuesday 28 July at 7.30pm
Wednesday 29 July at 7.30pm
Thursday 30 July at 7.30pm
Friday 31 July at 7.30pm
Saturday 1 August at 3pm
Saturday 1 August at 7.30pm
Age Guidance: 14+. Content Advice
Cast
Anne Boleyn : Olivia Reed
King James I : Nick Hone
King Henry VIII : Patrick Culhane
Thomas Cromwell : Simon Vaughan
Robert Cecil : David Wainwright
Cardinal Wolsely : Douglas Hopping
George Villiers : Celine Barclay
William Tyndale : David Savage
Lady Rochford : Bridget Ochocka
Lady Celia : Suki Rees
Lady Jane : Charlotte Scobie
Simpkin : Ciara Healy
Sloop : Charlotte Scobie
Parrot : Mark Timmis
Dean Lancelot Andrews : Andy Kimpton-Nye
Doctor John Reynolds : Richard Ings
Henry Barrow : David Savage
Country Men and Women : Richard Ings, Andy Kimpton-Nye, Suki Rees
Other parts played by members of the company
Production Team
Director : Michael Reilly
Set Design : Dina Benderra
Costume Design : Jackie Robinson and Kathleen Morrison
Stage Manager : Gary O’Keefe
Assistant Directors : Azul Alysum and Maisie Johnson
 Anne Boleyn will be Céline Barclay‘s first production with the Tower Theatre. Céline started acting at her local little theatre, (playing Dick Whittington’s cat!) and has since trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. She is currently developing a dance-theatre piece to be performed at the Southbank Centre Scratch in October, is directing Annie for the City Youth Theatre and was assistant director on Poor Napoleon at the Old Red Lion in June. |
 Anne Boleyn will be Patrick Culhane‘s first production with the Tower Theatre. Patrick studied Drama and Theatre at Trinity College Dublin, where he appeared in several productions at the Samuel Beckett Theatre and with the student drama society, DU Players. After a period away from the stage, he is returning to acting this year – he appeared in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at the Network Theatre in June. |
 This is Ciara Healey‘s first production with the Tower Theatre. She has been acting since she was a child, and after an extended break appeared as Patricia in Incognito Theatre’s production of Flare Path last year. Ciara is delighted to be a part of Anne Boleyn and cannot wait to get back on stage again. |
 This is Nick Hone‘s first production with the Tower and he couldn’t be more excited to step into the shoes of King James. Since beginning his acting journey in 2017, he has taken on a number of roles, most notably as the lead role in a 2024 production of Goldfish Girl which reached the All England Theatre Festival English Final, where it finished second, picking up a number of awards along the way. Last year he completed two terms at the Identify School of Acting. |
 Douglas Hopping has been character acting for many years and is a member of several North London theatre companies. A LAMDA bronze award holder, this is his first outing for Tower in his debut role as Cardinal Wolsey. Personal acting favourites include Bill Sykes (Oliver), King Oberon (A Midsummer Nights Dream) and Donald Duck (Blue Remembered Hills). |
 This is Richard Ings‘s second production at the Tower, having joined the company last September. In his debut, he played Phil in Brighton Rock – according to one review, helping to provide some ‘comedic relief’ in that tale of gangsters and murder – as well as three smaller parts requiring rapid costume and accent changes. He returns, relatively unscathed, to take on two contrasting roles in Anne Boleyn. Richard’s first acting experience was at college, with a medley of minor roles in Women Beware Women. This was followed by more substantial roles in The Importance of Being Earnest at Theatr Gwynedd and in The National Health. This was all some time ago, however, and only decades later has Richard rediscovered what fun it is to tread the boards again. |
 Anne Boleyn is Andy Kimpton-Nye‘s first production with the Tower Theatre. He trained at Mountview Theatre School from 1978 to 1980, before attending Birmingham University to study English. At university, he worked for the Birmingham Rep operating sound on the first ever production of The Woman in Black. He worked in television for 30 years as a producer/director for the BBC, Channel 4, Discovery, Eurosport and Sky Arts, and made a number of independent documentaries on film-makers Alan Clarke, Derek Jarman and Bill Douglas. |
 This is Bridget Ochocka‘s first production at the Tower Theatre. She trained at The Actor’s Lounge in Norwich and since then has played the lead in a few short films, appeared in an Agatha Christie stage adaptation, and had a small role in Rings of Power. |
 This is Olivia Reed‘s debut production with the Tower Theatre, and she couldn’t be more excited to have the privilege of play Anne Boleyn, alongside such a wonderful cast. Since graduating from drama school, she has written and performed in four plays, appeared in three short films, and is currently developing both a body horror short film and a dark comedy television series. With dual UK and US citizenship, Olivia is seeking representation. When she’s not writing or acting, she can occasionally be found attempting stand-up comedy … with varying degrees of success. |
 Suki Rees had such a lovely time as part of the Brighton Rock cast earlier this year that she is back for her second Tower production, and delighted to expand her (previously non-existent) historical knowledge. She has also recently appeared in shows at the Network Theatre and South London Theatre, including as Jackie-O in House of Yes and Phoebe Stowe in The Ballad of Maria Marten. |
 This is David Savage‘s first production with the Tower Theatre. David trained at The Oxford School of Drama in 2005/2006, and worked as an actor in fringe productions of plays such as The Brothers Karamazov and The Count of Monte Christo, as well as in music videos and school tours. After several years working as a teacher of English, Religious Studies and Drama he is very excited to be back on the stage. |
 This is Charlotte Scobie‘s first production with the Tower Theatre. She trained with the National Youth Theatre and is a part-time advertising creative, full-time cinephile. |
 This is Mark Timmis‘ acting debut for the Tower Theatre. Mark has been a core member of the dance troupe that opens and closes Alternative Miss World since 1998 performing at the Globe, the Roundhouse, the Hippodrome and, hopefully, Regent’s Park later this year. |
 This is Simon Vaughan‘s seventh production with the Tower Company after playing Norman in the 2020 production of The Norman Conquests which closed on opening night at the start of the Covid pandemic. Other stage roles include Barry Champlain in Talk Radio, Fluellen/Alice in Henry V, Thomas Killigrew in Nell Gwynn, Edward Little in Shoot the Bugger, and Charles Dickens in Sikes & Nancy. |
 This is David Wainwright‘s fifth show with the Tower, after playing the narrator in Under Milk Wood, the father in Cock, the judge in The Letter and Dallow/Jim in Brighton Rock. He played Trader in Market Boy, the final production of his post-grad drama school course which he completed last year. He appeared as Hastings in Richard III and as Giles Corey in The Crucible, both with SEDOS at the Bridewell Theatre. David has lived in Stoke Newington for almost 40 years, and has been involved with the Tower since it moved here. He is also very involved with the Mildmay Club in Newington Green, where, among other things, he runs a Board Games Night. |
 Michael Reilly writes songs and stories that sometimes compel him to direct. He most recently directed Ted Hughes’ translation of Jean Racine’s Phèdre at the Network Theatre, as well as his own translation of Federico Garcia Lorca’s Yerma in 2024. Other credits include Moving Day at the Southwark Playhouse (writer/director) in 2023 and Staying Alive at the Tower (Assistant Director and Assistant Stage Manager) last year. |