ARTS REPORT - The Sixth Wife.

Shap Memorial Hall was filled with the sound of medieval music whilst a large audience gathered for a performance of the one-woman play The Sixth Wife. Before the performance the audience stood to sing the National Anthem in honour of her majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second’s 80 th birthday that day.

This play was the creation of author and performer Alison Neil, who is also a historical researcher; and took the role of Katherine Parr, who was the sixth and last wife of Henry the Eighth. Contrary to popular belief; Katherine Parr is not thought to have been born at Kendal Castle, as her father had moved his family from Kendal to court before her birth in 1513. However Katherine is still honoured in Kendal, with a street and a school named after her, and her Book of Devotion preserved in the Town Hall.

The set recreated the Palace of Westminster with a backlit stained glass window and minimal props. The action was set on a night in late January 1547 when King Henry lay dying. His Queen, Katherine, dressed in a gown of sumptuous crimson velvet with heavy brocade, fills the long night by recounting the events of her life in a precise yet witty manner.

She recalls her childhood spent at Henry the Eighth’s court, and how precocious she was. It was said at the time of her birth astrologers predicted that she was destined to sit on the highest seat of imperial majesty. Her marriage to the elderly widower Lord Borough of Gainsborough when she was nine years old left her a widow at just fifteen. She was then married again in her late teens to another widower, Lord Latimer of Scrope Castle in Yorkshire, and with him was involved in the Pilgrimage of Grace an uprising that followed the dissolution of the monasteries both narrowly escaping execution for treason. The portrayal included several references to, and impressions of noblemen, Anne of Cleves with her German accent, and the gossip of courtiers, Katherine also read extracts from a book that hung at her waist.

Following the death of Lord Latimer, Katherine was left a wealthy widow; her delight at falling in love with Thomas Seymour was short lived when the King himself made her his wife in 1543. Contemporary accounts described Katherine thus: ‘a woman of virtue, wisdom, and gentleness, most meet for his Highness, and a wife most agreeable to his heart.’ Katherine succeeded in gathering the King’s three children under one roof and arranging the education of Prince Edward and Princess Elizabeth, she also convinced the King to legitimise his two daughters. Her life was not without danger, for there were ever those who sought engineer to her downfall. During the siege of Calais when the King was absent, Katherine was made Queen Regent, the highest title of honour possible to confer on a female in England.

As the play drew to its close, Katherine made reference once more to Thomas Seymour, the man she was to marry following the King’s death. The final words of the play were a rhyme familiar to many- ‘Henry the Eighth had six wives: Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, Survived’

The audience were greatly impressed by Alison Neil’s ability to memorise almost two hours of well researched and factual dialogue, for she had brought Katherine Parr, the Sixth Wife to life again for a most memorable evening in the old county of Westmorland.

The event, which formed part of the Highlights rural touring programme, was the only performance of this play in Cumbria. The evening was hosted by members from St. Michael’s Church, who served refreshments and held a raffle in aid of church funds.