The upcoming musical about Anne Boleyn has attracted attention after its producers issued a content warning alerting audiences to scenes involving oppression, miscarriage and execution by beheading.
Anne Boleyn: The Musical is scheduled to run as an open-air production at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich in 2027.
The warning, which appears on several theatre websites, outlines several distressing themes featured in the production.
It reads: “This open-air production features depictions of female oppression, false accusations, emotional distress and miscarriage, culminating in Anne’s imprisonment and execution by beheading.”
Anne Boleyn’s Execution Forms Part of the Story
Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII, was executed in May 1536 after being accused and convicted of treason, adultery and incest.
Her death by beheading at the Tower of London remains one of the most recognised executions in English royal history.
Boleyn married Henry in January 1533, a union that resulted in the Pope excommunicating the king. Henry subsequently assumed control of the Church of England.
Their marriage eventually deteriorated, particularly after Anne failed to produce a male heir.
Henry sought to end the marriage so he could marry again, leading to an investigation into allegations of high treason against the queen.
She was subsequently imprisoned at the Tower of London and executed following the miscarriage of a male child.
Her growing disagreements with Thomas Cromwell, who was accused of orchestrating the charges against her after helping Henry separate from the Catholic Church, also formed part of the events surrounding her downfall.
Source Questions the Need for Theatre Warning
The content warning has attracted criticism from a source who spoke to The Sun, questioning why audiences need to be alerted to events that are central to Anne Boleyn’s historical story.
“Nobody going to a play about Anne Boleyn expects her to ride off into the sunset, so why do we need these silly warnings about oppression and her head getting chopped off?” the source said.
“Frankly, it’s treating theatre audiences like a bunch of court jesters.”
Musical Promises an Account of Anne Boleyn’s Life
The production’s synopsis describes Anne as an ambitious woman determined to influence her own future despite the restrictions of Tudor England.
It promises an account of her journey from her early years to her rise to the throne, presenting the story of a woman whose ambitions and ideas placed her in danger.
The synopsis reads: “Ambitious. Ahead of her time. From her early years to her rise to the throne, Anne Boleyn: The Musical tells the story of a woman determined to shape her own destiny.
But in Tudor England, a woman with ideas could be dangerous.”
Grease and Fawlty Towers Also Receive Content Warnings
The Anne Boleyn production is among several television and theatre productions that have recently attracted attention over content warnings.
In January, ITV attached a trigger warning to the 1978 musical film Grease, highlighting scenes involving teenage misbehaviour.
The film, starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, includes discussions about virginity and teenage pregnancy, alongside scenes and songs that have attracted scrutiny over their treatment of consent.
Also in January, the stage adaptation of Fawlty Towers issued a warning about adult themes and controversial topics, including bad language and violence.
The production, which previously appeared on London’s West End, was preparing for a UK tour when Leeds Heritage Theatre issued its trigger alert.
West Side Story Receives Higher Age Classification
The 1961 Hollywood musical West Side Story also received a revised age classification after maintaining a PG rating for approximately 40 years.
The British Board of Film Classification raised the rating to 12 for its home entertainment release after identifying several themes and scenes considered unsuitable for younger audiences.
Among the issues highlighted were sexism and occasional transphobic remarks, including language directed at Anybodys, a character who is now recognised as transgender.
One scene features the character being told to “go wear a skirt”.
The classification also identifies moderate violence, sexual threat and discrimination.
Additional warnings refer to characters smoking cigarettes, verbal references to alcohol addiction, a stabbing scene showing the knife’s impact without visible blood, and a shooting.
Released in 1961, the film retells Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet through the story of Maria and Tony, two young people from rival gangs in New York’s Upper West Side.
Trainspotting Musical Also Faces Trigger Warning Criticism
In April, Trainspotting: The Musical also attracted criticism over a content warning issued to audiences.
The stage adaptation of the iconic film about heroin addiction included a warning highlighting its depiction of drug use, prompting complaints described as “woke nonsense”.
