Theatre Thursday: Tudor History, Italian Style!

"Anne Boleyn receiving proof of Henry VIII's passion for Jane Seymour", a 19th century engraving from the novel Windsor Castle. Image courtesy of Inor19 on Flickr.

In past Theatre Thursday features I have included several article links concerning productions of the tragic Italian opera, 'Anna Bolena'. As someone who once performed in Carmina Burana as a child, I really would love to see this operatic production, if it ever comes to my part of the country.

Anna Bolena is the last of Gaetano Donizetti's "Tudor trilogy". His other Tudor themed operas are (unsurprisingly) also tragedies, 'Roberto Devereux' and 'Maria Stuarda'.

Anna Bolena, Giovanna Seymour, and Enrico VIII take the stage in, 'Anna Bolena' !

Theatre Thursday: Mirren Takes to the Stage, 'Anna Bolena' and more

A 2007 photo of Dame Helen Mirren at the Orange British Academy Film Awards in London's Royal Opera House. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons, courtesy of the photographer Caroline Bonarde Ucci.

There is a lot happening this week in Elizabethan and Tudor-themed theatre! As I continue to polish tomorrow's article for Feature Friday, the first in my Elizabethan Power Couples series, I bring you links from around the web to peruse at your leisure. Of course, the biggest news, which you have most likely already heard, is that Dame Helen Mirren is set to play Queen Elizabeth II once more, this time, on the stage. The accomplished Mirren will be playing Her Majesty from the age of 25 until her 80's! Now if only we could get a reprisal of Mirren as Elizabeth I....

Helen Mirren Set to Reign on the Stage

'Anna Bolena': Experiencing Henry VIII's World Through Tragic Opera

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre Offers 3 Plays at Cinemas

Old Pros to Perform 'Twelfth Night'