Henry VIII

Our spring 2017 production was Shakespeare and Fletcher’s Henry VIII. Ben Prusiner, who directed King Lear for YSP in autumn 2016, returned to direct this play. Promenade performances were in the historic King’s Manor in York. The audience learned Renaissance card games and dances, and participated in the coronation of Anne Boleyn and the sentencing of the Duke of Buckingham. They also had a chance to share thoughts privately with Queen Katherine. Through it all the production was supported with live music on baroque instruments.

Cast, in alphabetical order:

David Barrett – Lord Chamberlain
Wil Cox – Duke of Surrey & Porter
William Darwin – Sir Thomas Lovell
Joshua Eldridge-smith – Duke of Norfolk
Elizabeth Elsworth – Queen Katherine
Tony Froud – Cardinal Wolsey
Ian Giles – Duke of Buckingham
Andrew Isherwood – Stephen Gardiner
Martina Meyer – Gentlewoman & Surveyor
Sally Mitcham – Patience & Steward
Rhuadrhi Oliver – Henry VIII
Almaz Rish – Gentlewoman & Countess of Surrey
Phyllis Smith – Lady Margary
Anna Trotman – Anne Boleyn
Samuel Valentine – Cardinal Campeius

Production Crew:

Director – Ben Prusiner
Assistant Director – Lena Tondello
Stage Manager – Sandrine Enryd Carlsson
Deputy Stage Manager – Marta Donati
Designer – Rebecca Neal
Lighting – Paul Hepworth
Choreography – Fiona Jean Baistow
Head of Marketing – Cindy Harley Campbell
Dramaturgy – Rachel Astall
Dramaturgy – Amanda Pitts

 Photos by John Saunders and Carrie Morrison