Review: THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL, Chichester Festival Theatre

Photo credit: Stephen Cummiskey

Chichester Festival Theatre’s 2024 Festival Season opens with the world premiere of The Other Boleyn Girl. The story has previously gained popularity as a novel, and a feature length film, and Mike Poulton’s stage adaptation of Philippa Gregory’s bestseller will enchant lovers of historical fiction and period dramas.

The tales of the wives of Henry VIII hold a fascinating place in British history, and the story of Anne and Mary Boleyn is one that could rival the plot of the most unbelievable soap opera. The sisters were both lovers of the King but it was the younger sister, Anne, who ended up becoming his second wife, and Queen of England. The Other Boleyn Girl highlights the Boleyn family’s desire to enjoy the power and status of integration with Henry VIII, at whatever cost.

Joanna Parker’s set is beautiful, with dual level staging along the back of the space portraying Tudor architecture. Clad with gauze, the structure is used to great effect when complemented by Chris Davey’s refined lighting design, but unfortunately becomes a distraction from the main action on the stage when video is projected onto it. The main playing space is a large hexagon, which is used to great effect by the cast of sixteen.

The three Boleyn siblings, Mary (Lucy Phelps), Anne (Freya Mavor) and their brother George (James Corrigan) have an easy and believable onstage relationship, although none of them are likeable characters. As the piece progresses, Mavor does an exemplary job of portraying Anne’s manic and disturbing need to bear a son, and her emotional distress and terror at losing her unborn children.

The large cast are incredibly accomplished and well directed by Lucy Bailey. Attention to detail in costuming, design and music coalesce to transport the audience to the court of the Tudor King. Although the story itself is known to bear historical inaccuracies, the importance of societal hierarchy and religious fervour are integral to the narrative. There are elements of the story that are hard to relate to as a modern audience, such as marrying for status and the need to produce a male heir. Implications of incest and enslavement are uncomfortable to present day sensibilities, but there are more universal themes which resonate such as familial pressure, complex romantic relationships and the importance of self-worth.

The adaption is too long however. With a three-hour run time, there are definitely scenes that could be trimmed, and moments that could be finessed. However, it is an unquestionably beautiful production which is well executed and will be enjoyed by fans of the genre.

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Sarah Brown

The Other Boleyn Girl runs at Chichester Festival Theatre until 11 May, with further info here.