Divorced, Beheaded, Died: An Audience With King Henry VIII – Shakespeare North Playhouse

An intimate evening with the most famous monarch that ever lived – who could resist that! I have loved the Tudors and been fascinated particularly by the ‘antics’ of Henry V111 since my history lessons at schools. That as one of my favourite theatres – The Shakespeare North Playhouse in Prescott – were holding ‘An evening with’ – I was very excited indeed to see how this legend would be portrayed.

The performance was in the smallest of the theatres at the playhouse and as I took my seat – a front row of course – a large regal chair awaited us. Then to wonderful 16th century music, the magnificent monarch entered the room. The audience gasped – as there he was- in all his splendour, the noble tyrant, we all    knew so well.

Jack Abbot was awesome from the minute he stepped into that room, to when he regally dismissed his audience – the peasants of London – at the end of a 2- hour performance of sheer magnificence.  The setting was 1544, and in a great hall in an English country mansion, his majesty was to recount the events of his long Reign, telling of his wives and his children and had invited his loyal subjects to petition him or ask questions on any related subject.  His talks covered two acts- Act 1 His quest for a son and his break with Rome; Act 2 Demonstrating a sorrowful and reflective mood, prepared to be questioned on his life thus far.

Throughout the entire performance Jack Abbot played the king with a great presence, who poignantly embodies Henry V111 perfectly. He had first played this character in Bath in 2018 and followed this in 2019 in a US premiere in Virginia and has continued to mesmerise audiences in both countries ever since, with his truly astonishing performances.  He has been recreating historical characters across the UK and USA for over 30 years, so has this and all characters running through him like blood.

The amazing costumes mesmerised me and acknowledgement must be given to Gini Newton and Keeley Sutphin for this creation, as to the writer John White and the voice artist Mike Haynes and the production company of “Select Society” who have provided historically themed performances throughout the UK for over 30 years.  The king had us all in the palm of his hand, his diction was word perfect, his anger and resentment shared and yes, even at times there was pity for this heartless ruler, who beheaded any friend, foe or family who crossed him with treason. 

Jack Abbott shared moments of the king’s life in a way that besotted the audience, he shared amazing facts (some never shared before) almost gossiping about friends and family as if in a TV reality show and the audience were enthralled. Having the chance to ask the king questions at the end of his interview was the icing on the cake for us all. “Why were England and Wales not united?”, “How did your leg wound affect your life as a monarch?”, “Did you write Greensleeves?” and may more questions were flung at him to which he answered without a hitch. It was just splendid.

I asked when audiences could see this performance again and was told that Jack was about to do a tour of the USA but that could go on line to follow this production on  www.selectsociety.co.uk and www.kinghenry8th.com  

I certainly would recommend that you do. This performance was a sheer delight, a must for history lovers or just for those that want to meet England’s most notorious monarch ‘up close and personal’.

“My word and will – is the word and will of God” – Henry V111

Reviewer Jan Mellor

Reviewed: 8th October 2024

North West End UK Rating: