Catherine the Queen
by Charlotte & Royce Ryton

7 - 12 April

This is a new play being adapted by the authors and producers from a proposed TV serial. It is the story of Catherine of Aragon's fight to remain queen of England, though unable to produce the son that Henry VIII demands. Henry resorts to a denial of the Pope's authority over the English Catholic church to achieve a divorce and permit a second marriage.

Royce, Morar and Charlotte Ryton discussing the set of Catherine the Queen with Graeme Horner.

Catherine the Queen tells the story of Catherine of Aragon from her arrival in England in 1501 until her death in 1536. Having married Prince Arthur in November 1501 she found herself a widow after only 4 months. Her re-marriage became the subject of intense diplomatic activity.

The treaty of betrothal to the future Henry VIII was signed in 1503 but two difficulties remained. The first was the dowry, part only of which had been paid at her previous marriage. The second was the fundamental problem which after many twists was to lead ultimately to England's permanent break with the Church of Rome. Because Catherine had been married to his brother, special papal dispensation was required for the marriage to Henry. The wording, nature and validity of the dispensation depended on whether the marriage had been consummated and this was t cause endless difficulties later.

Immediately following the death of his father, Henry, who undoubtedly loved Catherine, married her in June 1509.

Henry needed a son to ensure not just the succession but also the continued coalition of the recently united Lancastrian and Yorkist factions in the country. When Catherine failed to produce a living son, Henry felt no option but to seek a new marriage. He had by now fallen for Anne Bullen (normally know as Boleyn), but needed to divorce Catherine to marry her. The legal and religious difficulties in the attempt to annul his marriage and Catherine's determined struggle to remain Queen form the second half of this play.