Plays

1536

Duration

2 hr

Tudor tensions erupt in 1536 in London, brings royal scandal and rural unrest to the stage, following three women whose lives collide with the downfall of Anne Boleyn.

Set during the fall of Anne Boleyn,1536 play suits history fans and drama lovers, blending Tudor politics, friendship, and survival into a sharp, character-driven story.

Ava Pickett’s debut, winner of the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize and Stage Debut Award, is directed by Lyndsey Turner, who previously worked on The Crucible.

Power, loyalty, and fear weave through intimate staging and atmospheric sound, which take you into a world where private lives mirror royal turmoil.

Transferring from Almeida Theatre, the play is “effortlessly funny, bold and ballsy” (The Guardian). Book your 1536 London tickets at the Ambassadors Theatre!

The story

1536 play unfolds in Essex as three women gather to trade rumours about the growing rift between Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. What begins as curiosity soon exposes deeper fractures at home, where suspicion, insecurity, and shifting allegiances echo the turmoil at court. As whispers sharpen into threats, the women face their own reckoning in a world where royal decisions can upend ordinary lives. With each revelation tightening the stakes, the question becomes how far loyalty, love, and self-preservation can stretch before something breaks.

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

Show details

Categories: Play, Drama, Critics' choice, True story

Audience: Suitable for 14+ yrs

Theater name: Ambassadors Theatre

Find the best seats in the house with the Ambassadors Theatre seating plan

Theater facilities: Bar, restrooms, cloakroom, foyer seating

Theater accessibility: Step-free access via a side entrance, designated wheelchair spaces, accessible restrooms, hearing enhancement headsets, companion seating options

Dress code: Smart casual

Cast & crew

Director: Lyndsey Turner

Writer: Ava Pickett

Designer: Max Jones

Lighting designer: Jack Knowles

Lighting concept collaborator: Tim Lutkin

Sound designer: Tingying Dong

Composer & arranger: Will Stuart

Movement & intimacy director: Anna Morrissey

Fight director: Sam Lyon-Behan

Assistant director: Taiwo Ava Oyebola

Additional info

This show is suitable for ages 14 years and above.

Content warning: The production contains strong language, violence, and explicit content.

Age suitability recommendations are just suggestions. So, trust your judgment when booking tickets for any show, and enjoy!

Most theaters are air-conditioned year-round, so it can get a bit chilly. Bring a light jacket just in case.

Frequently asked questions about 1536

Q: How much do the 1536 London tickets cost?

A: Prices may change based on your choice of seats and show dates.

Q: Where is 1536 playing in London?

A: The show is playing at the Ambassadors Theatre.

Q: What’s the story about?

A: 1536 play follows three women in rural Essex as rumours of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn’s downfall echo into their own lives, revealing how monarchy and ordinary people collide.

Q: Is the show suitable for children?

A: There’s no strict age limit, but it’s generally recommended for ages 14 years and above due to strong language, violence, and explicit content.

Q: Is the play based on true historical events?

A: Yes. The play is rooted in the real political and personal upheaval of 1536, the year Anne Boleyn was executed and Henry VIII reshaped the Tudor court.

Q: Do I need to know Tudor history to enjoy 1536?

A: Not at all. The play uses Tudor events as a backdrop but focuses on friendship, fear, and survival through the eyes of ordinary women.

Q: Does the play use modern staging or period-style design?

A: The production uses contemporary minimalism intertwined with Tudor-era motifs, allowing the tension between personal and political to stay front and centre.