1536

But something is different today, because Jane has heard a rumor from faraway London. Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII, is said to have been arrested and taken to the Tower of London. The friends are certain that it must be misinformation or a misunderstanding. But a few days later, the rumor is confirmed, and Anne Boleyn is accused of allegedly cheating on the king—with five different men, including her own brother. For Anna and Mariella, it’s clear that the accusations are fabricated, but Jane believes the men in the village who say that Anne Boleyn will now get exactly what she deserves. The men’s behavior changes noticeably: they, too, begin to act with increasing boldness and fearlessness. At the same time, tensions arise among the friends, who are all trying in different ways to navigate the rules that society has imposed on women, and in doing so find themselves in ever-greater conflict with one another.

Ava Pickett’s play explores the complexity of female friendship and the difficulty of solidarity in a repressive society. What impact do the actions of political leaders have on people’s everyday lives? How much has really changed for women in the five hundred years that have passed since 1536? British director Jaz Woodcock-Stewart, who was invited to the Theatertreffen in 2026 with her Basel production of *The Glass Menagerie*, is directing the German-language premiere of this play, written in 2025. It is her first production at the Schaubühne.