'1536' to transfer to the West End

1536 is set during the period of King Henry VIII's marriage to Anne Boleyn and explores the impact of royal drama on the common folk, specifically three as-of-yet unmarried friends, Anna, Jane, and Mariella.

Summary

• 1536 transfers to the West End from the Almeida Theatre
• The play by debut writer Ava Pickett follows three young women during the time of Henry VIII's marriage to Anne Boleyn
• Performances begin at the Ambassadors Theatre next May

The Almeida Theatre's production of 1536 by debut writer Ava Pickett will transfer to the West End next year. It will begin performances at the Ambassadors Theatre on 2 May, running through 1 August 2026.

Directed by Lyndsey Turner (Chimerica), 1536 is set during the period of King Henry VIII's marriage to Anne Boleyn and explores the impact of royal drama on the common folk, specifically three as-of-yet unmarried friends, Anna, Jane, and Mariella.

In a review from the Almeida run, our critic said: "This play featuring elements of Wolf Hall, EastEnders and Thomas Hardy [...] boasts three outstanding central performances in a visually arresting production, and Pickett is a new voice to listen out for."

Pickett won the 2024 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, the award for Best Writer at the 2025 Stage Debut Awards, and a special commendation from The George Devine Award for 1536. She is currently co-writing, alongside Baz Luhrmann, his Jehanne D'Arc film.

Pickett said" “It’s hard to put into words how much this whole process has meant to me so I’m going to resort to cliché and say it’s beyond my wildest dreams – which still feels a bit like I’m downplaying it.

"I’m such an example of what can happen when people get in your corner early and so I just want to thank everyone at the Almeida Theatre and Genesis for developing it and putting it on in the first place and then thank you so much to Sonia Friedman for coming in with such enthusiasm and belief in it and wanting to bring it into the West End - I really am still pinching myself!

"It's hard to talk about 'inspiration' for the play, as to be honest, 1536 was written in response to the never-ending stories in the news about violence against women. It asks the question if a King can kill his wife in a palace, how does that impact three working class women in Essex? Because the world we live in has not changed as much as we are made to believe, because what happens in the corridors of power still bleeds down, as it always has.

"So what a privilege it is to be able to bring Anna, Mariella and Jane to more audiences in all their complicated, funny, dark, desperate glory”.

The creative team includes Director Lyndsey Turner, Set and Costume Designer Max Jones, Lighting Designer Jack Knowles, Sound Designer Tingying Dong, Movement and Intimacy Director Anna Morrissey, and Composer and Arranger Will Stuart.

Casting is yet to be announced.

Check back for 1536 tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Photo credit: 1536. (Photo by Helen Murray)