ANNE BOLEYN THE MUSICAL - FULL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR WORLD PREMIERE PRODUCTION AT HEVER CASTLE - ANNE'S CHILDHOOD HOME - 2 - 30 AUGUST 2025

Eliane Astor-De Merode and Simon de Merode of Historalia Productions, are thrilled to announce full casting for the world premiere of Anne Boleyn the Musical, debuting this summer at Hever Castle, Anne Boleyn’s childhood home. Directed by Roxana Silbert, with book by Rebecca Night, and choreography by Alistair David, it will tell the captivating story of Anne Boleyn at the very place where her journey began.

Anne Boleyn the Musical will play in a specially constructed 1,800 seat outdoor auditorium in the grounds of Hever Castle from 2 – 30 August 2025, with a gala press night on Wednesday 6 August and will be the UK’s first ever outdoor production featuring binaural sound, designed by the Ringham Brothers.

Emily Lane (recently seen as ‘Minnie Fay’ in Hello Dolly at the Palladium, and whose other credits include ‘Anna’ in Frozen at Theatre Royal Drury Lane) will play ‘Anne Boleyn’, with Mark Goldthorp (recently seen as ‘Marley/Father’ in A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic), and whose credits include ‘Curtis Jackson’ in Sister Act Park (UK Tour) as ‘Henry VIII’; Dona Atallah (Hawn, Broken Wings) as ‘Mary / Elizabeth I / Messenger’; Noah Sinigaglia (whose recent theatre credits include Mamma Mia! The Party and Broken Wings) as ‘Queen Katherine / Margaret’; Kim Ismay (whose extensive West End musical theatre credits include Mamma Mia! Sunset Boulevard, Wicked and Elf) as ‘Joan’; Joshua Oakes-Rogers (Cinderella & the Glass Slipper, Madagascar the Musical) as ‘George Boleyn’; Matt Bond (Jerry Springer: The Opera, Jekyll & Hyde) as ‘Thomas Cromwell’; Clive Hayward (A Christmas Carol, Anything Goes) as ‘Thomas Boleyn’; Chomba S.Taulo (Pretty Woman, Book of Mormon) as ‘Matthew Parker’; and Rebecca Luter (Grease and 54 Below) and Jay Worley (Blood Brothers, Jersey Boys) complete the cast as swings.

12 year old Annabelle Jones and 13 year old Betsy Godden will share the role of ‘Young Anne’, and 11 year old Arthur Moffat and 14 year old Dawson Richards will share the role of ‘Young George Boleyn’.

The professional company of musical theatre performers will play alongside a 35-strong community cast from Kent who will act, dance and sing. The specially constructed 1,800 seat auditorium will sit in the stunning grounds of Hever with the castle visible in the background – it will be a key part of the set, with cast members entering and exiting from the castle itself.

Each audience member will have their own headset, through which they will be intimately connected to the action on stage, thanks to the stunning binaural sound design by The Ringham Brothers (Blindness at The Donmar, Anna at the National Theatre). The score – with lyrics by Rebecca Night & Sam Kenyon - will have original music composed by Sam Gevers and recorded by the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.

Anne says farewell to her family and embarks on a life-changing journey to the royal courts of Flanders and France. Though her goodbyes are difficult, Anne’s adventure will shape not only her future but the future of England itself…

Anne Boleyn the Musical explores the transformation from a young girl leaving England, into a young woman who returns to Hever Castle, destined to attract a King. The rise and fall of their relationship forever altered the course of history.

Celebrated as one of history’s most intriguing and influential women, Anne's true nature, her ambitions, and her generosity will finally be revealed—within the very walls where her mind was shaped and her legacy forged.

Roxana Silbert said, “I am absolutely thrilled to be directing this epic show in the stunning surroundings of Hever Castle. Anne Boleyn has so often been portrayed as just a manipulative flirt. Rebecca has thrown new light on this brilliant, headstrong, charismatic woman who brought very radical and progressive ideas with her from Europe, drove social change, and ultimately laid the way for her daughter Elizabeth to become Queen.

This is a thriller about women in power and an unexpected love story that led a woman to change the course of a nation's history.

The gorgeous, orchestral music, the epic design and joyous choreography – are all are firmly rooted in historically accurate Tudor sensibility, but with a contemporary twist."

Owen Emmerson, historian, and assistant Curator of Hever Castle, said, “Rebecca Night’s gifted script for Anne Boleyn: The Musical is a unique triumph - bold, intelligent, and profoundly moving. It offers us a rare and enriching window into one of the murkiest aspects of Anne Boleyn’s story: her inner world. With nuance and sensitivity, it explores where her agency may have lain and what she might truly have felt as the tides of ambition, power, and betrayal swirled around her. That this remarkable work should be performed at her childhood home is especially powerful and fitting. Much of her history played out within Hever’s walls, and this production brings her spirit vividly, and poignantly, to life once more.”

Food and Drink

The Hever Castle estate opens from 6.10pm, allowing audiences time to enjoy the stunning grounds and a relaxed pre-show experience. Premium Platinum ticket holders will have exclusive access to the Italian Loggia, set beside the lake, where drinks and light bites will be served in a picturesque setting. Other ticket holders can opt to add on an intimate, high-end dining experience — a beautiful, seasonal two-course dinner served in the historic Astor Wing, limited to just 50 guests per evening (£79, to include paired wines). All remaining guests are invited to enjoy the bustling main tent, home to four fast-service food stations curated by large-scale event specialist Danny Staples. Options will cater to all dietary needs, and a full bar will be available before the performance, during the interval, and after the show.

Historalia co-founder and director Eliane Astor-de Merode, who is also the future Lady Astor of Hever, said, “It’s incredibly important to us that the whole experience feels magical from the moment people arrive at Hever Castle. Whether you choose to sip your wine by the lake at the Loggia, or to enjoy a sumptuous two course meal in the historic Astor Wing, or grabbing a bite in our bustling main tent, we want everyone to feel welcomed and well looked after. This isn’t just a night at the theatre — it’s a full summer’s evening out, and we’ve made sure there’s something for everyone to enjoy.”

Anne Boleyn the Musical is directed by Roxana Silbert, with Lydia Scott-Johnson as Associate Director, and choreographed by Alistair David with Ben Mundy as Associate Choreographer. The book is by Rebecca Night, lyrics by Rebecca Night & Sam Kenyon, and music composed by Sam Gevers, with Matthew Malone as musical supervisor. The show features set and costume design by Robert Innes-Hopkins, sound design by the Ringham Brothers, and lighting design by Michel Jacobs. Technical Direction is managed by Gary Beestone Associates. The production is overseen by Producer Simon de Merode for Historalia Productions, with Executive Producer Kevin Fitzmaurice, and Line Producer Pippa Hill. Casting is by Debbie O’Brien.

Anne Boleyn the Musical will be produced by Historalia Productions. Founded 10 years ago in Belgium by the Merode siblings, Historalia is driven by a passion for history and community. The company’s unique approach has seen historic venues like Westerlo Castle transform into immersive, large-scale musical spectacles, with local community members playing a vital role both on and off the stage. Recent shows have included Jeanne d'Arc (Westerlo Castle, 2024), Marie-Antoinette (Wynendale Castle, 2023) and 1830 (Westerlo Castle, 2021).