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Wolf Hall Parts One & Two

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Wolf Hall Parts One & Two
Written byHilary Mantel (novels)
Mike Poulton (play)
Based onWolf Hall
Bring Up the Bodies'
Date premiered11 December 2013
Place premieredSwan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
Subjectthe rise of Thomas Cromwell
SettingSixteenth century England

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

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Stratford-upon-Avon and West End (2013-14)

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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.[1] 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).[2]

Broadway (2015)

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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[3] 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.[4] The play was nominated for 8 Tony Awards, including Best Play.

Characters and original cast

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Character Royal Shakespeare Company
(2013)
West End
(2014)
Broadway
(2015)
Mark Smeaton Joey Batey
Charles Brandon Nicholas Boulton
Katherine of Aragon
Jane Boleyn
Lucy Briers
Princess Mary
Jane Seymour
Lady Worcester
Leah Brotherhead
Lizzie Wykys
Mary Boleyn
Mary Shelton
Olivia Darnley
Thomas Howard Nicholas Day
Gregory Cromwell Daniel Fraser
George Boleyn
Edward Seymour
Oscar Pearce Edward Harrison
Margery Seymour
Lady-in-waiting
Maid
Madeleine Hyland
Sir John Seymour
Thomas Wolsey
Archbishop Warham
Sir William Kingston
Paul Jesson
Anne Boleyn Lydia Leonard
Thomas Cromwell Ben Miles
Christophe
Francis Weston
Pierro Niel-Mee
King Henry VIII Nathaniel Parker
Stephen Gardiner
Eustache Chapuys
Matthew Pidgeon
Henry Norris
Thomas More
John Ramm
Harry Percy
William Brereton
Nicholas Shaw
Rafe Sadler Alexander Cobb Joshua Silver
Thomas Boleyn
Thomas Cranmer
French Ambassador
Giles Taylor
Thomas Wyatt
Headsman
Jay Taylor
Wolsey's Servant
Servant
Barge-Master
Benedict Hastings

Awards and nominations

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Original London production

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Year Award Ceremony Category Nominee Result
2014 Evening Standard Theatre Awards
Best Director Jeremy Herrin Won
Best Actor Ben Miles Nominated
2015 WhatsOnStage Awards Best New Play Nominated
Best Supporting Actor in a Play Nathaniel Parker Nominated
Laurence Olivier Awards Best New Play Nominated
Best Director Jeremy Herrin Nominated
Best Actor in a Supporting Role Nathaniel Parker Won
Best Costume Design Christopher Oram Won
Best Lighting Design Paule Constable and David Plater Nominated

Original Broadway production

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Year Award Category Nominee Result
2015 Tony Awards Best Play Nominated
Best Actor in a Play Ben Miles Nominated
Best Featured Actor in a Play Nathaniel Parker Nominated
Best Featured Actress in a Play Lydia Leonard Nominated
Best Direction of a Play Jeremy Herrin Nominated
Best Scenic Design in a Play Christopher Oram Nominated
Best Costume Design in a Play Christopher Oram Won
Best Lighting Design in a Play Paule Constable and David Plater Nominated
Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Actor in a Play Ben Miles Nominated
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play Lydia Leonard Nominated
Outstanding Director of a Play Jeremy Herrin Nominated
Outstanding Costume Design for a Play Christopher Oram Nominated
Outstanding Lighting Design for a Play Paule Constable and David Plater Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding New Broadway Play Nominated
Outstanding Actor in a Play Ben Miles Nominated
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play Paul Jesson Nominated
Nathaniel Parker Nominated
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play Lydia Leonard Nominated
Outstanding Director of a Play Jeremy Herrin Nominated
Outstanding Costume Design (Play or Musical) Christopher Oram Nominated
Drama League Awards Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Play Nominated
Distinguished Performance Award Ben Miles Nominated
Nathaniel Parker Nominated

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "David Tennant to play Richard II at the RSC". The Daily Telegraph. London. 23 January 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  2. ^ "Wolf Hall – Aldwych Theatre London – tickets, information, reviews". London Theatreland.
  3. ^ "Wolf Hall Parts One & Two on Broadway". Wolf Hall Parts One & Two on Broadway.
  4. ^ Hetrick, Adam; Shenton, Mark (10 September 2014). "Broadway Producers Eye Winter Garden with Brit Import of Wolf Hall Double-Bill". Playbill.
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