Henry The Tudor Dude

At Churcher’s College Junior School this year there was proof indeed that history is fun and entertaining.  Year 6 brought the Tudors to life with drama, music and dance in their summer production of ‘Henry the Tudor Dude’ by Kjartan Poskitt. 

Set in the news studio of the ‘Tudor News’ room the newsreaders John Pumphreys (Adam Haldenby) and Fiona Spruce (Molly Moran) whisked the audience through a fast-paced journey through history which included beheadings, multiple wives and the complete reformation of the church.

The set dazzled the audience with its banners and glitter ; created by Mrs. Philipa Yugin Power and the music, directed by Mrs Sue Bint, gave a foot tapping  pace to the jazzy ensemble pieces and melodic tones for the gentle ballads. 

The character of Henry V111 was superbly brought across by two actors (Mikey O’Kelly and Libby Gervais) who tracked the change in character from the popular young king to the ‘diabolical fiend’ of the aging monarch.  With the help of  a host of colourful characters – from the self-seeking Thomas Wolsey (George Van den Broek), the demonstrative Katherine of Aragon (Zahra Coulthard) and the doomed Ann Boleyn (Hannah Moore) not to forget the over-zealous executioners, the visitors from the Vatican and the husband-seeking court ladies, the pace of humour and action never let up.

Directed by Mrs. Seona Rivett, this romp through the past left the audience with their ‘bodies rocking’; their ‘heads rolling’ and their tears of laughter tumbling down their cheeks.