A forthcoming musical about Anne Boleyn will include scenes depicting the queen’s execution, prompting producers to issue a content warning for audiences. The production, titled *Anne Boleyn: The Musical*, is scheduled to be performed at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, South East London, in 2024.

The warning advises viewers that the open-air performance contains portrayals of female oppression, false accusations, emotional distress, miscarriage, and culminates with Anne Boleyn’s imprisonment and beheading. Anne, the second wife of King Henry VIII, is a historical figure whose marriage precipitated England’s break with the Roman Catholic Church and ended in her execution.

Producers describe the show as an “epic” retelling of Anne’s life, offering a dramatic exploration of her rise and fall. The musical is notably staged on the grounds of the Palace of Placentia, Anne’s former residence. This location holds historical significance, as it is where Anne was arrested in May 1536 before being detained in the Tower of London and executed a little more than two weeks later.

While the warning aims to prepare audiences for the production’s challenging themes, some critics have questioned its necessity. An entertainment industry source expressed skepticism over content advisories for well-known historical events, noting that audiences attending a play about Anne Boleyn would reasonably expect a depiction of her execution. The source characterized such warnings as unnecessary and suggested they underestimate viewers’ awareness.

The production joins a long tradition of dramatizations about Anne Boleyn, similar to recent portrayals such as the BBC One adaptation of *Wolf Hall*, which also highlighted her complex and tragic history. The musical is poised to contribute to ongoing public interest in Anne Boleyn’s legacy through a contemporary theatrical lens.