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This production is recommended for ages 14+.
Performance dates
2 May - 1 August 2026
Run time: 2hrs
No interval
Following an award-winning engagement at the Almeida Theatre, 1536 transfers to the Ambassadors Theatre for a strictly limited run. Book your official tickets today.
“Kings don’t kill their wives alright? It’s not – it just doesn't happen. It doesn’t.”
Set in the heart of Tudor England, 1536 is a gripping new play that weaves royal scandal with rural struggle. In a quiet field in Essex, three women reunite at their childhood meeting spot, eager for the latest gossip from London. Rumours swirl of a dangerous rift between King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn - and soon, whispers of betrayal closer to home ignite their own fears.
As the women navigate loyalty, love, and survival in a world ruled by men and monarchs, 1536 exposes how the fates of ordinary people mirror the turmoil of the crown. Sharp, haunting, and fiercely human, this Tudor drama captures the moment when history and personal rebellion collide.
This Barbie produces critically acclaimed plays about the fall of Anne Boleyn
As the lead in Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights, Margot Robbie (Mary Queen of Scots) is no stranger to period dramas, so when she sees one and puts her name behind it, you know it’s going to be good. And when the production has already won awards during its initial run at the Almeida Theatre, you know it’s going to be really, really good. And that’s exactly what 1536 is.
Speaking on her involvement, the Oscar nominee said “At LuckyChap [Margot Robbie’s production company], we’re always drawn to bold, female-driven stories, and Ava’s brilliant play is exactly that. We’re absolutely thrilled to be coming on board as co-producers for its West End transfer. The show is fearless, witty and emotionally resonant, and it gives voice to women whose stories still feel timely today.”
28 Jan, 2026 | By Sian McBride
After a sell-out, critically acclaimed run at the Almeida Theatre, the award-winning new play 1536 is making its West End debut at the Ambassadors Theatre from 2 May to 1 August 2026. Described as “funny, saucy, and totally gripping” (The Daily Mail), the play has audiences hooked with its bold mix of history, humour, and contemporary relevance.
Set in 1536, the year King Henry VIII famously clashed with Anne Boleyn, 1536 follows three working-class women in Essex as royal scandal echoes through their lives. Anna, Mariella, and Jane gather at their childhood meeting spot, thirsting for gossip from London—and find their rural world unexpectedly mirroring the palace drama. As tensions rise, the women confront the violence that threads through history, revealing just how little power dynamics have changed
17 Nov, 2025 | By Hay Brunsdon