# Wolf Hall Parts One & Two

Wolf Hall Parts One & Two (originally titled Wolf Hall & Bring Up The Bodies) is a two-part play based on Hilary Mantel's novels Wolf Hall (2009) and Bring Up the Bodies (2013), adapted for the stage by Mike Poulton. Set in the period from 1500 to 1535, Wolf Hall is a sympathetic fictionalised biography documenting the rapid rise to power of Thomas Cromwell in the court of Henry VIII through to the death of Sir Thomas More.

## Production history
### Stratford-upon-Avon and West End (2013-14)

In January 2013, the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) announced that it would stage adaptations by Mike Poulton of Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies in its Winter season in the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon beginning previews from 11 December 2013, with press performances on 8 January 2014, running until 29 March. The production transferred to London's Aldwych Theatre from 1 May 2014, for a limited run until 4 October (extended from 6 September due to popular demand).

### Broadway (2015)

Producers Jeffrey Richards and Jerry Frankel brought the London productions of Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies, starring Ben Miles as Thomas Cromwell, Lydia Leonard as Anne Boleyn, Lucy Briers as Katherine of Aragon, and Nathaniel Parker as Henry VIII, to Broadway's Winter Garden Theatre beginning previews from 20 March with an opening night on 9 April 2015, for a 15-week run until 5 July. The double-bill was re-titled Wolf Hall Parts One & Two for American audiences. The play was nominated for 8 Tony Awards, including Best Play.

## Characters and original cast

| Character | Royal Shakespeare Company (2013) | West End (2014) | Broadway (2015) |
| Mark Smeaton | Joey Batey | Joey Batey | Joey Batey |
| Charles Brandon | Nicholas Boulton | Nicholas Boulton | Nicholas Boulton |
| Katherine of Aragon Jane Boleyn | Lucy Briers | Lucy Briers | Lucy Briers |
| Princess Mary Jane Seymour Lady Worcester | Leah Brotherhead | Leah Brotherhead | Leah Brotherhead |
| Lizzie Wykys Mary Boleyn Mary Shelton | Olivia Darnley | Olivia Darnley | Olivia Darnley |
| Thomas Howard | Nicholas Day | Nicholas Day | Nicholas Day |
| Gregory Cromwell | Daniel Fraser | Daniel Fraser | Daniel Fraser |
| George Boleyn Edward Seymour | Oscar Pearce | Oscar Pearce | Edward Harrison |
| Margery Seymour Lady-in-waiting Maid | Madeleine Hyland | Madeleine Hyland | Madeleine Hyland |
| Sir John Seymour Thomas Wolsey Archbishop Warham Sir William Kingston | Paul Jesson | Paul Jesson | Paul Jesson |
| Anne Boleyn | Lydia Leonard | Lydia Leonard | Lydia Leonard |
| Thomas Cromwell | Ben Miles | Ben Miles | Ben Miles |
| Christophe Francis Weston | Pierro Niel-Mee | Pierro Niel-Mee | Pierro Niel-Mee |
| King Henry VIII | Nathaniel Parker | Nathaniel Parker | Nathaniel Parker |
| Stephen Gardiner Eustache Chapuys | Matthew Pidgeon | Matthew Pidgeon | Matthew Pidgeon |
| Henry Norris Thomas More | John Ramm | John Ramm | John Ramm |
| Harry Percy William Brereton | Nicholas Shaw | Nicholas Shaw | Nicholas Shaw |
| Rafe Sadler | Alexander Cobb | Joshua Silver | Joshua Silver |
| Thomas Boleyn Thomas Cranmer French Ambassador | Giles Taylor | Giles Taylor | Giles Taylor |
| Thomas Wyatt Headsman | Jay Taylor | Jay Taylor | Jay Taylor |
| Wolsey's Servant Servant Barge-Master | — | — | Benedict Hastings |

## Awards and nominations
### Original London production

| Year | Award Ceremony | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 2014 | Evening Standard Theatre Awards |
| 2014 | Evening Standard Theatre Awards | Best Director | Jeremy Herrin | Won |
| 2014 | Evening Standard Theatre Awards | Best Actor | Ben Miles | Nominated |
| 2015 | WhatsOnStage Awards | Best New Play | Best New Play | Nominated |
| 2015 | WhatsOnStage Awards | Best Supporting Actor in a Play | Nathaniel Parker | Nominated |
| 2015 | Laurence Olivier Awards | Best New Play | Best New Play | Nominated |
| 2015 | Laurence Olivier Awards | Best Director | Jeremy Herrin | Nominated |
| 2015 | Laurence Olivier Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Nathaniel Parker | Won |
| 2015 | Laurence Olivier Awards | Best Costume Design | Christopher Oram | Won |
| 2015 | Laurence Olivier Awards | Best Lighting Design | Paule Constable and David Plater | Nominated |

### Original Broadway production

| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 2015 | Tony Awards | Best Play | Best Play | Nominated |
| 2015 | Tony Awards | Best Actor in a Play | Ben Miles | Nominated |
| 2015 | Tony Awards | Best Featured Actor in a Play | Nathaniel Parker | Nominated |
| 2015 | Tony Awards | Best Featured Actress in a Play | Lydia Leonard | Nominated |
| 2015 | Tony Awards | Best Direction of a Play | Jeremy Herrin | Nominated |
| 2015 | Tony Awards | Best Scenic Design in a Play | Christopher Oram | Nominated |
| 2015 | Tony Awards | Best Costume Design in a Play | Christopher Oram | Won |
| 2015 | Tony Awards | Best Lighting Design in a Play | Paule Constable and David Plater | Nominated |
| 2015 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Play | Ben Miles | Nominated |
| 2015 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play | Lydia Leonard | Nominated |
| 2015 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Director of a Play | Jeremy Herrin | Nominated |
| 2015 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Costume Design for a Play | Christopher Oram | Nominated |
| 2015 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Lighting Design for a Play | Paule Constable and David Plater | Nominated |
| 2015 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding New Broadway Play | Outstanding New Broadway Play | Nominated |
| 2015 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Play | Ben Miles | Nominated |
| 2015 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play | Paul Jesson | Nominated |
| 2015 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play | Nathaniel Parker | Nominated |
| 2015 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play | Lydia Leonard | Nominated |
| 2015 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Director of a Play | Jeremy Herrin | Nominated |
| 2015 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Costume Design (Play or Musical) | Christopher Oram | Nominated |
| 2015 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Play | Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Play | Nominated |
| 2015 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Award | Ben Miles | Nominated |
| 2015 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Award | Nathaniel Parker | Nominated |