“Give us voice; we who blot the margins, the fallen and forgotten, the minimised and maligned.”
Time & Again Theatre Company are launching VILE, a brand new theatre production anarchically reimagining the Tudor court and centring the voices history tried to forget, developed with support from theatres Cast and The Lowry, as well as the charity OCD UK.
Set amidst the chaotic reign of Henry VIII, VILE is a rude and radical re-evaluation of Lady Rochford - Anne Boleyn’s infamous sister-in-law - and celebrates LGBTQ+ and disabled identities in an era where neither were recognised. Written by award-winning playwright Laura Crow, it challenges the mainstream narrative that Jane was nothing more than a bitter betrayer who hated her husband, George, and rushed to bring down the Boleyns.
VILE is a furious and funny subversion of traditional period drama that re-examines the Rochford’s marriage and its representation in popular media. Rejecting years of ableist and homophobic stereotyping. VILE instead offers a deeply human - and deeply researched - exploration of Jane and George, and their turbulent lives, all through an irreverent contemporary lens.
Vile's writer, Laura Crow
“History and popular culture have branded Jane a villain, stemming from misogynistic and ableist readings of her life and denied her agency over her own thoughts, body and legacy.” says writer Laura Crow. “There’s a suggestion that Jane suffered a mental breakdown towards the end of her life and theories around George’s sexuality have become increasingly persistent. Unfortunately, this is often harnessed by the media to scandalise their story or offer proof that their marriage was deeply unhappy - when in fact, there’s no solid evidence. In writing VILE, I wanted to embrace these aspects of their lives but reframe them into something positive and empowering and show that there have always been other ways of living, other ways of loving.”
VILE is centred in the court of Henry VIII. The parties are bigger, the c*ckfights are wilder and there’s more scandal than you can shake a jousting lance at. Frankly, it’s a bloody nightmare. Enter Jane Parker. Minor noble, major worrier. The flash, young brother of Anne Boleyn is being thrust upon her, but Jane would rather retreat to the countryside away from the crowds, pestilence and power-hungry politics of courtly life. Newly entangled with the Boleyns, Jane begins to battle intrusive thoughts that warn of constant danger. It's difficult not to lose your head when you're fighting your own mind. Will Jane crumble in a world of backstabbing and betrayal? Or will she play the game and do whatever it takes to survive?
Vile's Mission
VILE continues Time & Again’s mission to use historical settings to illuminate the present. Following their award-winning 2022 production EARWIG, which explored the experience of being deaf in the 1920s, this new play draws on lived experience of OCD and health anxiety to tell a story that resonates far beyond the Tudor court.
VILE also integrates creative access throughout the production. With creative captions, integrated audio description, and animated projection design, the show invites everyone into the chaos, danger, and intrigue of Tudor life - with inclusion built into the heart of its storytelling.
Praise for EARWIG:
WINNER Offie Award for Best Show of Edinburgh Fringe 2022
WINNER Birds of Paradise Emerging Talent Award 2022
★★★★★ Fringe Biscuit
★★★★★ Neurodiverse Review
★★★★★ Theatre & Arts Reviews
★★★★★ North West End
★★★★★ Theatre Weekly
★★★★★ Get Your Coats On
★★★★★ Broadway Baby
★★★★ Feminist Fringe
★★★★ Edfringereview
★★★★ Sinners Review
The project launches with a sharing at Manchester’s independent theatre, 53Two on Saturday 28th June. The sharing will feature a polished preview of the first act of VILE, which will go onto become a full-length, two-act touring production in 2026.
Tickets for the preview are available here: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/53two/t-nopxgad
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