Anne Boleyn

The Observer“All of it has verve and conviction...” Together Brenton and the director John Dove have come up with an infinitely adaptable solution to the staging of long and tedious discussions...

The Independent“The play bursts through the constraints of costume drama...” In its rich, quirky evocation of period and animated mix of fervent seriousness and strip-cartoon fun, this is a stimulating companion to Shakespeare's Henry VIII, with which it runs in rep...

Financial Times“It is a combination of styles that works well at the Globe...” The play ends perfunctorily and tritely (even more so in performance than in the published text), but the journey to that point is a compelling one...

MusicOMH“It succeeds brilliantly in entertaining and provoking thought...” John Dove’s superb production, brilliantly paced and picking up on every gift Brenton gives him, bristles with great performances. John Dougall is a forthright, cruel and ultimately treacherous Cromwell...

The Telegraph“A surfeit of ambition here...” It only just hangs together. The performances, though, in John Dove’s ebullient, zesty production keep your eye off the flaws, moving between periods and serving the switches between arch politicking and Blackadder-ish flourishes with equal aplomb.

this is london“Brenton’s earthy script has some snappy lines...” Director John Dove manages to coax appealing shading from the supporting cast. If only Anne had produced a male heir, there would never have been a James for us, or Brenton, to bother with...

Guardian“John Dove's production matches the play's frontal attack...” It's a radically revisionist work that argues that Anne was more Protestant martyr than sexual predator. It both challenges received wisdom and bulges with theatrical vitality...

Whatsonstage.com“A muscular new history play...” This is hard stuff to dramatise, but Brenton and his director, John Dove, keep the stage alive with the crackle of debate, court spy action in parallel eras, some elegant musical and group staging, and a gallery of fascinating characters...

The Arts Desk“Never have the Tudors seemed so real...” There are gripping, fast-moving confrontations with the representatives of James's unimaginative court and passionate, loggerheaded chuchmen. His final meeting with Anne's ghost is even more compelling...

The Stage“This is no history lecture - perhaps a good thing too...” There is a broad brush of truth to this beautifully produced, strangely moving play which feels compelling and genuinely eye opening throughout...