Henry the Tudor Dude

Once again this youth company came up with something different in the shape of Kjartan Poskitt’s rock and roll musical about the life and loves of Henry VIII. With over 60 young cast members the stage was full of colourful characters and costumes performing numbers ranging from serious rock (the recurring The Body Rock and Six Finger Annie)  to vaudeville (I Wanna Be Queen) to soft shoe (Blue) and thigh-slapping Bavarian (Wundabar Anne). The story is told through the medium of reports of the various important events of Henry’s life given by The Tudor TV newsteam led by the competent Jenna Allan and Jodi Grant. The central part of Henry VIII was played at the performance I attended by Ruiridh Williams with a suitable air of confidence and arrogance and a sense of comedy. Strong performances were given by his team of advisors – Wolsley (Anna Kenyon), Cranmer (Cliona Kennedy), Cromwell (Robert Kennedy) and More (Fergus Hughes) – and his Court Jester Will (Euan Watson). Strong support was given by the actors playing his six wives – Catherine of Aragon (Emily Brown), Anne Boleyn (Sophie McKenzie), Jane Seymour (Vivienne Archibald), Anne of Cleves (Aaron Rattray), Catherine Howard (Ellie Halmshaw) and Catherine Parr (Caitlin Jack) – and his daughter Mary (Emily Keith). Mention too must be made of Toby Maddams as the diminutive, but busy, Executioner. Singing and movement by the whole cast was enthusiastic and well executed (pardon the pun!). Well done to all at Haddo Children’s Theatre for an entertaining, and educational, afternoon.

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