Hilary Mantel's 'Wolf Hall' and 'Bring Up the Bodies' come to the stage
Hilary Mantel鈥檚 award-winning novels 鈥淲olf Hall鈥� and 鈥淏ring Up the Bodies鈥� have been adapted into play form and will be performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Writer Mike Poulton adapted the novels into a two-part theatrical adaptation and the company will perform the shows at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare. The productions will premiere in December 2013 and run until March of the next year and will be directed by Jeremy Herrin, who is currently serving as associate director at the Royal Court Theatre in London.
鈥淗ilary Mantel has been working alongside us to find a genuine theatrical language for these plays, even promising to include material she left out of the books in order to do so,鈥� RSC artistic director Gregory Doran said, according to . 鈥淭he gripping tale of Thomas Cromwell鈥檚 rise to power under Henry VII, and the King鈥檚 infatuation with Anne Boleyn, has captivated readers in their thousands, and I am thrilled to bring them to our stages.鈥�
Doran told the he knows exactly who he wants to take on the role of Thomas Cromwell, protagonist of Mantel鈥檚 novels and adviser to King Henry VIII.
鈥淚 wish I could tell you,鈥� he said.聽
In discussing the new stage adaptation, Mantel recalled going to Stratford alone at age 15 and seeing Shakespeare plays.
鈥淚t was a shaping experience,鈥� the writer said in an interview with the Guardian. 鈥淪o it really is a dream come true for me to have the opportunity to see the RSC present my plays鈥� I don't say that lightly.鈥澛�
The RSC鈥檚 new season will also include a production of 鈥淩ichard II鈥� starring 鈥淒octor Who鈥� actor David Tennant.
