What: Big-screen adaptation of Phillippa Gregory’s historical novel, which looks at the behind-the-scenes manoeuvrings that led to the execution of Henry VIII’s most short-lived wife. It’s a bitter tale of a monarch enjoying the conjugal right to rape, with Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson as Anne and Mary respectively. Eric Bana gives an interestingly alternative reading to the usually jolly monster of legend.
Why:The Other Boleyn Girl did the rounds last spring, but this is another chance to enjoy those incredibly lustrous Sandy Powell-designed costumes on the big screen. It’s a terrific story, too, with Johansson doing her usual startled-bush-baby routine. Plus, there’s the significant Henry VIII connection with Worcester: the fact that his older brother, Arthur, is buried in the city’s cathedral is probably what saved it from the Reformation’s wrecking ball.
Running time: 115min
Mon Sep 22, Swan Theatre, The Moors, Worcester. 7.30pm, £5, £4 concs. Tel: 01905 611427. http://www.worcesterlive.co.uk
