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★★★★
If you’re a history fan, you will be thrilled to learn that ‘A Man for All Seasons’ is currently touring the UK, bringing the profound story of Sir Thomas More, his commitment to the Catholic Church and personal beliefs to regional venues across the country. Set during the English Reformation in the 1500s and based on true events, Robert Bolt’s play examines a very dangerous time in this country, looking at how Sir Thomas stayed true to his values when King Henry VIII was looking to divorce Catherine of Aragon. Anyone who opposed the monarch would ultimately pay the price for their lack of loyalty and this makes for a really thought-provoking piece of theatre, leading audiences to question how far they would go for their own morals. The drama which has been directed by Jonathan Church is at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury this week and I had the opportunity to review the play on opening night.
Initial thoughts
Overall it is an incredibly well directed play that interprets a complex period of British history. Robert Bolt’s writing places Sir Thomas front and centre and each of the interactions on stage help to generate a picture of how tense this period of history was. That being said, the first act predominantly builds context, providing audiences with a letterbox view inside the More household and a taster of Sir Thomas’ character. With such high expectations, I found myself slightly underwhelmed at the interval, particularly seeing as most of the dialogue in the first half consists of colloquial discourse and political gossip. Although, what it lacks in terms of dramatic levels at the start, it more than makes up for in the suspenseful and thrilling second act. I was on the edge of my seat for the entirety of this part, totally captivated by the cast performances and the subtle but clever amendments to the set design, notably in the courtroom and prison scenes.
Balancing comedy and drama
For a show with incredibly dark themes, particularly with regard to the ultimate fate of Sir Thomas, I was thrilled to see elements of humour distributed throughout the script. This mostly comes from Gary Wilmot’s ‘The Common Man’, who breaks the fourth wall and has a narrator role, piecing together the events in the central character’s later life. However the humour is not limited to this amusing role, Martin Shaw’s interpretation of the historical figure is able to relay jokes in moments of darkness and the comedic timing is exceptional.
Period set and costume design
It is always a challenge to illustrate historical periods in touring theatre, as you only have a couple of days to change venues and get settled in. I was inspired by the detail in Simon Higlett’s set and costume design, particularly the opulence of the clothing and the intricate interiors at the More family home. The locations portrayed are incredibly ambient and dark, which feels realistic for the time period, but also reflects the brewing tension on stage. Whilst I was amazed by how much the creative team have been able to recreate 16th-century England, I would like to have seen Sir Thomas’ fall from society better illustrated in the set design, as with the core set pieces still in place, I didn’t find myself truly believing in Sir Thomas’ change in financial circumstances. However this is a minor point that is largely covered by developments in the costumes.
A fascinating perspective on a significant period of history
The 2025 touring production of ‘A Man for All Seasons’ is a powerful piece of period theatre. Martin Shaw and Gary Wilmot take on completely contrasting roles, but through their engaging performances immerse audiences in the turbulent world of Tudor England. The play is at the Marlowe Theatre until Saturday 8th March, with the last few remaining tickets available via the theatre’s website. If you are interested in this significant period of history, definitely try and see the show before it closes on Saturday.
Thanks for reading my blog today.
Love Kat xxxx
*My ticket for ‘A Man for All Seasons’ was gifted in exchange for an unbiased review.
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