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.
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. 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).
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 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. 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 AragonJane Boleyn Lucy Briers Princess MaryJane SeymourLady Worcester Leah Brotherhead Lizzie WykysMary BoleynMary Shelton Olivia Darnley Thomas Howard Nicholas Day Gregory Cromwell Daniel Fraser George BoleynEdward Seymour Oscar Pearce Edward Harrison Margery SeymourLady-in-waitingMaid Madeleine Hyland Sir John SeymourThomas WolseyArchbishop WarhamSir William Kingston Paul Jesson Anne Boleyn Lydia Leonard Thomas Cromwell Ben Miles ChristopheFrancis Weston Pierro Niel-Mee King Henry VIII Nathaniel Parker Stephen GardinerEustache Chapuys Matthew Pidgeon Henry NorrisThomas More John Ramm Harry PercyWilliam Brereton Nicholas Shaw Rafe Sadler Alexander Cobb Joshua Silver Thomas BoleynThomas CranmerFrench Ambassador Giles Taylor Thomas WyattHeadsman Jay TaylorWolsey's ServantServantBarge-Mastercolspan='2' align=center Benedict Hastings
Awards and nominations
Original London production Year Award Ceremony Category Nominee Result 2014 Evening Standard Theatre Awards Best Director Jeremy Herrin Best Actor Ben Miles 2015 WhatsOnStage Awards Best New Play Best Supporting Actor in a Play Nathaniel Parker Laurence Olivier AwardsBest New Play Best DirectorJeremy Herrin Best Actor in a Supporting RoleNathaniel Parker Best Costume DesignChristopher Oram Best Lighting DesignPaule Constable and David Plater
Original Broadway production Year Award Category Nominee Result2015Tony AwardsBest Play Best Actor in a PlayBen MilesBest Featured Actor in a PlayNathaniel ParkerBest Featured Actress in a PlayLydia LeonardBest Direction of a PlayJeremy HerrinBest Scenic Design in a PlayChristopher OramBest Costume Design in a PlayChristopher OramBest Lighting Design in a PlayPaule Constable and David Plater Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Actor in a PlayBen Miles Outstanding Featured Actress in a PlayLydia Leonard Outstanding Director of a PlayJeremy Herrin Outstanding Costume Design for a Play Christopher Oram Outstanding Lighting Design for a PlayPaule Constable and David Plater Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding New Broadway Play Outstanding Actor in a PlayBen Miles Outstanding Featured Actor in a PlayPaul Jesson Nathaniel Parker Outstanding Featured Actress in a PlayLydia Leonard Outstanding Director of a PlayJeremy Herrin Outstanding Costume Design (Play or Musical) Christopher Oram Drama League Awards Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Play Distinguished Performance AwardBen Miles Nathaniel Parker
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.
References
External links