Margot Robbie celebrates Ava Pickett's 1536 in the West End | Opening night video

WhatsOnStage travelled back in time (and to the Ambassadors Theatre) for the eagerly anticipated West End transfer of 1536.  Directed by Lyndsey Turner, Ava Pickett's play, set in Tudor England, centres on three women in Essex whose lives are disrupted by rumours spreading from the court of Henry VIII concerning the fall of Anne Boleyn. It will open at the Ambassadors Theatre in the West End for a strictly limited run from 2 May to 1 August 2026. The West End production follows a sold-out engagement at the Almeida, where it premiered last year, being described as “an impressive, involving evening marking Pickett as a real talent to watch.” Pickett’s debut script has won her the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize and the award for Best Writer at the Stage Debut Awards. She was also singled out as one of WhatsOnStage’s theatre faces to watch in 2026.  Siena Kelly, Tanya Reynolds and Liv Hill all reprise their leading roles of Anna, Mariella and Jane, respectively, from the acclaimed Almeida Theatre production. They are joined on stage by Oliver Johnstone as Richard and George Kemp (High Noon) as William. 1536 is produced by Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap, Sonia Friedman Productions, Annapurna Theatre and the Almeida Theatre. Robbie, Pickett and the five cast members all sat down with WhatsOnStage to discuss bringing the show into the West End:  The company is completed by Harry Bradley (The Play That Goes Wrong), understudying the roles of Richard and William, Saroja-Lily Ratnavel (Chasing Hares), understudying the roles of Jane and Mariella and Sydney Spencer (Hamilton), understudying the role of Anna. Recently, Pickett debuted The Manningtree Witches at Mercury Theatre in Colchester (you can read our 5-star review here) and Bloodsport: After Helen of Troy is opening at Stratford East later this year. On the film side, she’s also cooking up a big-screen version based on the life of Joan of Arc with Baz Luhrmann.