1536

“Kings don’t kill their wives alright? It’s not – it just doesn't happen. It doesn’t.” Set in the heart of Tudor England, 1536 is a gripping new play that weaves royal scandal with rural struggle. In a quiet field in Essex, three women reunite at their childhood meeting spot, eager for the latest gossip from London. Rumours swirl of a dangerous rift between King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn - and soon, whispers of betrayal closer to home ignite their own fears. As the women navigate loyalty, love, and survival in a world ruled by men and monarchs, 1536 exposes how the fates of ordinary people mirror the turmoil of the crown. Sharp, haunting, and fiercely human, this Tudor drama captures the moment when history and personal rebellion collide. ***** “Funny, saucy, and totally gripping” - The Daily Mail. **** - The Guardian, Independent, Evening Standard, The Stage, WhatsOnStage, The Financial Times. Playwright Ava Pickett, won The 2024 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize for her debut play, 1536, as well as Best Writer at the Stage Debut Awards.