Henry VIII

Henry VIII is a collaborative history play written by William Shakespeare and John Fletcher based on the life of King Henry VIII of England.[1] An alternative title All Is True is recorded in contemporary documents the title Henry VIII not appearing until the plays publication in the First Folio of 1623. Stylistic evidence indicates that individual scenes were written by either Shakespeare or his collaborator and successor John Fletcher. It is also somewhat characteristic of the late romances in its structure. It is noted for having more stage directions than any of Shakespeares other plays.During a performance of Henry VIII at the Globe Theatre in 1613 a cannon shot employed for special effects ignited the theatres thatched roof (and the beams) burning the original Globe building to the ground.The play opens with a Prologue (by a figure otherwise unidentified) who stresses that the audience will see a serious play and appeals to the audience members: The first and happiest hearers of the town to Be sad as we would make ye.Act I opens with a conversation between the Dukes of Norfolk and Buckingham and Lord Abergavenny. Their speeches express their mutual resentment over the ruthless power and overweening pride of Cardinal Wolsey. Wolsey passes over the stage with his attendants and expresses his own hostility toward Buckingham. Later Buckingham is arrested on treason charges-Wolseys doing.The plays second scene introduces King Henry VIII and shows his reliance on Wolsey as his favourite. Queen Katherine enters to protest about Wolseys abuse of the tax system for his own purposes Wolsey defends himself but when the King revokes the Cardinals measures Wolsey spreads a rumour that he himself is responsible for the Kings action. Katherine also challenges the arrest of Buckingham but Wolsey defends the arrest by producing the Dukes Surveyor the primary accuser. After hearing the Surveyor the King orders Buckinghams trial to occur.At a banquet thrown by Wolsey the King and his attendants enter in disguise as masquers. The King dances with Anne Bullen.