King Henry VIII

King Henry VIII is a play by William Shakespeare about the life of Henry VIII and was first published in the First Folio of 1623.

The original text
The noble and malevolent King Henry VIII is married to Queen Katherine of Aragon, a decent, honest and honourable woman. Henry, however, falls in love with the lovely Anne Boleyn and rebels against Rome's ban on divorce, determined to marry her. Cardinal Wolsey, the authoritative Lord Chancellor of England, tries to convince Rome to drop their opposition to the king's divorce from Katharine in order to marry his new love. Later, on his deathbed, Wolsey asks for forgiveness for his unholy activity. Henry, however, does as he pleases and divorces Katherine. He marries Anne Boleyn while Katherine is sent to Kimbolton Castle.

Performance history in South Africa
1953: The City of Port Elizabeth presented William Shakespeare's play, King Henry VIII, in the Feather Market Hall from June, 1 - 6, 1953, in honour of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II on June 2.

Main Cast: Prologue: Michael Wilson. King Henry VII: Ronald W Davis. Duke of Buckinham: Brocas Harris. Lord Abergavenmy: Louis Yudelman. Sergeant-at-arms: G Robertson. Sir Thomas Lovell: Tom Scotcher. Cardinal Wolsey: Johann Nell. Cromwell: Maurice Weightman. Duke of Suffolk: Gavin Blackburn. Lord Sands: Eric White. Sir Henry Guildford: C Watling. Lord Chamberlain: Jack Fisher. Queen Katharine of Arragon: Peggy English. Patience: Jill Henley. Duchess of Norfolk: Dorothy Davies. Griffith: John Dunn. Surveyor to the Duke of Buckingham: Douglas Catt. First Old Lady: Phyllis Taylor. Anne Bullen: Christine Hamilton-Cox. Second Old Lady: Dorothy McClelland. Earl of Surrey: Anthony Booth-Jones. First Gentleman: Frank Townsend. Second Gentleman: Harold Davidson. Third Gentleman: Noel Annear. Cardinal Campeius: John Rebham. Gardiner, (later Archbishop of Canterbury): Leceister Walton. Garter King-At-Arms: Ray Spring. First Secretary: John de Lange. Spanish Ambassador Capucius: Christos Christodoulou. Sir Anthony Denny: Wynton Ferreira. Lord Chancellor: C Fuller Petersen. Dr Butts: Eric White. Porter: P D Armstrong. Archbishop Cranmer: John Hamber. Lady-in-Waiting: Joyce Scotcher.

Participating Organisations: In a show of mass patriotism the following organisations participated in the production: Company of Four, Madrigal Singers, Port Elizabeth Ballet Club, Port Elizabeth Caledonian Men's Pipe Band, Port Elizabeth Catholic Amateur Dramatic Society, Port Elizabeth Gilbert and Sullivan Society, Port Elizabeth Ladies Choir, Port Elizabeth Ladies' Pipe Band, Port Elizabeth Male Voice Choir, Port Elizabeth Musical and Dramatic Society, Port Elizabeth Orchestral Society, Oratorio Festival Choir, Salvation Army, St Mary's Church Choir, and the Tasker Art Group.

Backstage: Production: Will Jamieson. Musical Director: Robert Selley. Pageant Mistress: Doreen Egan. Decor: Herbert McWilliams executed under the direction of H McWilliams, Chris Murray, A Gardham. Costumes were designed by Maurice Weightman and sewn under the direction of Marie Oosthuizen and Barbara Hopkins. Headdresses by: Elise Barker. Lighting: H Alyn Lane. Stage Direction: Robert Parker, assisted by C Darling, A Nives, J Adey. Dances arranged by the P E Ballet Club. Photography by Middlebrooke Studio. Producer's Secretary: Molly Fuller Petersen. Prompt: Phyllis Davidson. Programme Cover Illustration: Maurice Weightman with special lettering by R H Harmer.

Approximately 240 actors and musicians took part in the production.

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