A comedy musical inspired by the court of Henry VIII is set to be staged at Warminster’s Athenaeum Theatre later this month as part of a summer tour across the South West.
Kairos Theatre Company will bring its production of King of Fools to the Athenaeum Theatre on Friday 26th June following a successful run at the Merlin Theatre in Frome last year.
The company, which draws performers from across the region, said it had not expected to revive the production after its original staging, but audience reaction prompted a return. The Warminster performance forms part of a short tour that also includes dates in Bath, Cornwall and a gala performance in Frome on Thursday 2nd July as part of the 25th anniversary of the Frome Festival.
Written by Frome’s Martin Dimery, the musical is a fictional tale set in the court of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.
The story centres on the real-life court jesters Will Sommers and Jane Fool, whose lives remain largely undocumented. In the production, Will discovers Jane entertaining customers in a tavern and secures her an audition before the King and Queen at Whitehall Palace.
After an “X Factor” style deliberation, Jane wins a place at court. However, her fortunes change when she becomes entangled in a plot involving Henry and Thomas Cromwell to cast aside Anne Boleyn, leading to a dramatic and comedic attempt to escape her fate.
The score was written by Martin Dimery in collaboration with Helen Turner, who performed with bands led by Paul Weller, including The Style Council. Helen has also composed for and recorded with West End performer Frances Ruffelle.
Featuring songs influenced by Broadway, Music Hall and rock music, the production is directed by Anne Dimery, a founder member of Kairos Theatre and chair of the Merlin Theatre board.
Tickets for the Warminster performance on 26th June are available from the Athenaeum Theatre box office.
Pictured clockwise: Steve Middle as Henry VIII, Sarah Wingrove as Anne Boleyn, Sean Andrews as Will Sommers and Leonie McCaslin as Jane Fool.
