Full casting revealed for West End transfer of '1536'

1536, which has been nominated for Best New Play at the 2026 Olivier Awards, is set during the period of King Henry VIII's marriage to Anne Boleyn and explores the impact of royal drama on three friends: Anna, Jane, and Mariella.

The full cast has been announced for 1536, which arrives in the West End following a run at the Almeida Theatre in 2025.

Joining Liv Hill as Jane (Three Girls), Siena Kelly as Anna (Black Mirror, Adult Material), and Tanya Reynolds as Mariella (Sex Education, A Mirror), who are all reprising their previous roles, are Oliver Johnstone as Richard (Retrograde, All My Sons) and George Kemp as William (High Noon, Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?).

Harry Bradley (The Play That Goes Wrong, The Mousetrap) will understudy the roles of Richard and William, Saroja-Lily Ratnavel (81 (Life), Chasing Hares) will understudy the roles of Jane and Mariella and Sydney Spencer (Hamilton, The Wizard of Oz) will understudy the role of Anna.

1536, which has been nominated for Best New Play at the 2026 Olivier Awards, is set during the period of King Henry VIII's marriage to Anne Boleyn and explores the impact of royal drama on three friends: Anna, Jane, and Mariella.

In a review for LondonTheatre.co.uk, our critic said of the Almeida run: "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."

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.

Book 1536 tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Photo credit: 1536 at the Almeida. (Courtesy of production)