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Overview
Synopsis
Cardinal Wolsey is a powerful figure in Henry VIII’s court. He levies taxes, takes property from the nobles, and orchestrates charges of treason against any lords who might stand in his way. After the Duke of Buckingham is executed by Wolsey’s charges, the court begins to recognize that they must do something to stop this ambitious and dangerous man. At the same time, King Henry is seeking a divorce from Queen Katharine, claiming that he is unsure of the propriety of this marriage to his brother’s widow, while most understand his motivations are for a male heir. Behind the scenes, Wolsey is seeking to create a political alliance with France (depending on Henry’s divorce and wedding to a French princess).
However, at a banquet, Henry meets the beautiful Anne Bullen, and determines to marry her. Even though Anne complies, she is also sympathetic to Katharine’s plight--and even claimed at one point that she would never want to be a queen. The nobles conspire to bring down Wolsey and show their support and deference to the king’s wishes, whether they agree or not. Wolsey leaves in disgrace, newly finding humility, and begs that others not follow his example of pride and ambition. Katharine has visions of her own death, and just as the court seems to be falling into despair, Queen Anne gives birth to Elizabeth. Shakespeare’s final history play, Henry VIII offers visions of both historical events as well as touches of romance that offer hope for the future of England.
Show Information
- Book
- William Shakespeare , John Fletcher
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 5
- First Produced
- 1613
- Genres
- Drama, Historical/Biographical
- Settings
- Period, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- London, England, 1500s
- Cast Size
- large
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult, Elderly Characters, Large Cast
Context
Like many of the history plays of the era, Henry VIII is largely based on Raphael Holinshed’s Chronicles, the first narrative history of England’s kings. The play’s greatest notoriety is the Globe Theatre fire; during one of Henry VIII’s earliest performances on June 29, 1613, a cannon spark ignited the thatch roof, and the theatre burned to the ground. The play was perhaps a part of the marriage celebrations for Princess Elizabeth (King James I’s daughter). No one was killed in the fire,
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Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
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Lead |
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Non-singer |
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Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
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Male |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Male |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Male |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Female |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
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Non-singer |
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Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Either Gender |
Non-singer |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Cindi Calhoun
Theatre teacher, director, writer, and seamstress