“Wolf Hall†and “Bring Up the Bodies,†Hilary Mantel’s pair of Man Booker prize-winning novels about Tudor England, are coming to the stage.The Royal Shakespeare Company announced on Wednesday that Mike Poulton, known for his theatrical versions of classic works like “The Canterbury Tales†and “Morte d’Arthur,†is adapting both books for the company, and that the stage versions, directed by Jeremy Herrin, will appear in repertory starting in December.
The BBC had earlier announced plans for a separate miniseries based on the novels.
“Wolf Hall†and “Bring Up the Bodies,†which were published in 2009 and 2012, respectively, are in many ways obvious material for the RSC. They overlap with Shakespeare’s rarely performe “Henry VIII,†except that they focus not on Henry but on Thomas Cromwell, his henchman, deal-maker and marriage broker. Ms. Mantel is at work now on a third novel (entitled “The Mirror and the Light,†according to a BBC News report) which will take Cromwell to his sudden beheading in 1540.
The RSC also announced that its winter season would feature David Tennant, formerly the time traveling humanoid in the beloved BBC science-fiction series “Dr. Who,†in the title role of Shakespeare’s “Richard II.†Gregory Doran, the company’s new artistic director, will direct the production, which is scheduled to open in October.
