Everything You Need to Know About 1536: Story, Cast, Reviews & London Performances
Published on 5 March 2026
The award-winning new play 1536 transfers to the West End in May 2026, bringing Ava Pickett’s bold and darkly funny Tudor drama to the Ambassadors Theatre for a strictly limited season.
After a critically acclaimed premiere at the Almeida Theatre, the production quickly became one of the most talked-about new plays in London. Now soon arriving in the West End, 1536 offers audiences a striking and intimate look at friendship, power, and survival during one of the most infamous years in British history.
What Is the Play 1536 About?
Set in Tudor England, 1536 takes place during the dramatic year that saw the fall of Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII.
Rather than focusing on royal intrigue inside the palace walls, the play shifts the perspective to three young women living far from court life in rural Essex. The friends reunite in a quiet field where they once gathered as girls, eager to share the latest gossip arriving from London.
Rumours begin to spread about a growing rift between Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. At first the news feels distant, but as whispers of betrayal and danger circulate, the women begin to recognise unsettling echoes within their own lives.
As conversations deepen, 1536 becomes a powerful exploration of loyalty, reputation and the realities of living in a world governed by men and monarchy. What begins as playful gossip gradually reveals deeper tensions, exposing how the politics of the crown can shape the lives of ordinary people.
Sharp, witty and increasingly haunting, the play examines female friendship under pressure while drawing surprising parallels between Tudor England and modern conversations about power and gender.
1536 London: West End Transfer to the Ambassadors Theatre
Following its acclaimed engagement at the Almeida Theatre, 1536 now transfers to the Ambassadors Theatre in London’s West End. The original production was widely praised for its bold writing and gripping performances, quickly building a reputation as one of the most exciting new plays to emerge from London theatre in recent years.
The intimate setting of the Ambassadors Theatre offers audiences the chance to experience the story up close, with the play unfolding through raw conversations, shifting alliances and moments of dark humour. With its sharp dialogue and emotionally charged storytelling, 1536 presents Tudor history through a fresh lens, focusing on the lives of women whose stories rarely appear in the historical record.
1536 Cast
The production centres on three women whose friendship is tested as the world around them begins to shift. Liv Hill plays Jane, while Siena Kelly appears as Anna and Tanya Reynolds takes on the role of Mariella. Their performances are set to capture the complexities of friendship and the fragile balance between trust and rivalry.
Who Is Playwright Ava Pickett?
Playwright Ava Pickett has quickly established herself as one of the most exciting emerging voices in British theatre.Her debut play 1536 received widespread acclaim and won the prestigious Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, an international award recognising outstanding plays written by women and non-binary writers. The script was also honoured at the Stage Debut Awards, marking Pickett as a major new talent in theatre writing.
The play was developed through the Almeida Theatre’s Genesis New Playwrights programme, which supports early-career writers creating ambitious work for the stage. Alongside her theatre work, Pickett has built an impressive career in television. She has written for a number of well-known series including Bad Education, Brassic, and How to Get to Heaven from Belfast, demonstrating a sharp ear for dialogue and character-driven storytelling.
Her work now spans theatre, television and film, with several major projects currently in development. Pickett is also working on an upcoming film project, Jehanne d’Arc, with filmmaker Baz Luhrmann, further expanding her creative reach beyond the stage.
1536 Reviews: What Critics Said at the Almeida Theatre
When 1536 premiered at the Almeida Theatre, critics responded enthusiastically to its bold voice and vivid performances. Reviewers praised the play’s ability to balance humour with darker themes, highlighting how its Tudor setting becomes a lens through which to examine contemporary conversations about misogyny, power and reputation.
The production received strong reviews across major publications, with particular praise for its sharp dialogue and the chemistry between the three central performers. Many critics noted how the play moves gradually from playful gossip to more unsettling emotional territory, building tension through conversation rather than spectacle, and The Guardian said praise the play for the fact that it ‘speaks clearly to our own age’.
1536 Tickets for the West End
Following its award-winning debut, 1536 now arrives in the West End for a limited run at the Ambassadors Theatre. The play runs from 2 May to 1 August 2026, offering audiences the chance to experience one of the most exciting new pieces of writing to emerge from the London stage in recent years. With its combination of historical intrigue, biting humour and powerful performances, 1536 promises a gripping night at the theatre.
1536 FAQs
When is 1536 playing in London?
1536 transfers to the Ambassadors Theatre in London from 2 May until 1 August 2026.
Where is 1536 showing?
The production will take place at the Ambassadors Theatre in London’s West End.
How long is 1536?
The running time of the play is approximately two hours and it is performed without an interval.
Who wrote 1536?
1536 was written by award-winning playwright Ava Pickett.
Who is producing 1536?
The West End production of 1536 is produced by a team that includes film star and producer Margot Robbie. Robbie has become increasingly involved in theatre and screen production in recent years, alongside her acclaimed acting career. Audiences will recognise Robbie from major films including The Wolf of Wall Street, Barbie and Wuthering Heights.
Is 1536 based on a true story?
The play is set during real historical events in 1536, the year Anne Boleyn was executed by King Henry VIII. While the characters themselves are fictional, the story explores how those events might have affected the lives of ordinary people living in Tudor England.
What age rating is 1536?
The production is recommended for audiences aged 14 and above.
Where can I buy 1536 tickets?
Tickets for the West End run of 1536 are available now for performances at the Ambassadors Theatre.
Images from the Almeida Theatre run. Photo credit: Helen Murray.
By Hay Brunsdon
I've over 15 years of writing and editorial experience, and starting working in the West End theatre industry in 2012. When not watching or writing about theatre I'm usually swimming, hiking, running, or training for triathlons in the Stroud valleys.