King Henry is married to Katherine of Aragon, but he continues to be smitten with the charms from the queen’s maid of honor, Anne Bullen, and it is tempted to divorce his dignified and noble wife.

On the other hand, the lords of England resent the influence of Henry’s trusted advisor, Cardinal Wolsey, who’s gradually drawing power into his own hands. As Katherine and Wolsey suffer their tragic falls, fresh statistics rise to fill their places, however they, too, will become brought low with the inexorable sweep of time and fortune.

This colorful history play, possibly written in collaboration with John Fletcher, originates from the end of Shakespeare’s dramatic career.

Paul Jesson takes on Henry VIII, and Jane Lapotaire has Queen Katherine. Timothy Western is Cardinal Wolsey.