Hever Castle & Gardens is delighted to announce that West End performer Emily Lane has been cast in the title role of Anne Boleyn: The Musical, premiering this summer in the grounds of Anne Boleyn’s childhood home.
This spectacular new production will run from 2 – 30 August 2025, transforming the grounds of Hever Castle into a stunning 1,800-seat outdoor auditorium. Directed by Roxana Silbert, with a book by Rebecca Night, choreography by Alistair David, and music by Sam Gevers, the musical promises to bring the captivating story of Anne Boleyn to life where it all began.
Emily Lane, whose recent credits include Frozen at Theatre Royal Drury Lane and Hello, Dolly! at the London Palladium, will lead a professional cast of musical theatre stars, alongside a 35-strong community ensemble drawn from Kent.
Anne Boleyn: The Musical will be the UK’s first ever outdoor production to feature binaural sound design, crafted by the acclaimed Ringham Brothers. Each audience member will wear a personal headset, allowing them to experience the action in a deeply immersive and intimate way.
The cast will perform with the dramatic backdrop of the Castle itself, which will form a key part of the set, with characters entering and exiting from the historic building, heightening the sense of authenticity and theatrical grandeur.
Joining Emily Lane as Anne are:
Young Anne will be played by Annabelle Jones (12) and Betsy Godden (13), while Arthur Moffat (11) and Dawson Richards (14) will share the role of Young George Boleyn.
Guests will be able to arrive from 6:10pm to enjoy the Castle grounds before the show. A range of food and drink experiences will be available, including:
Eliane Astor-de Merode, Director of Historalia and future Lady Astor of Hever, said:
“It’s incredibly important to us that the whole experience feels magical from the moment people arrive. Whether dining in the Astor Wing or sipping wine by the lake, we want everyone to feel welcome and inspired.”
Dr Owen Emmerson, historian and Assistant Curator at Hever Castle, commented:
“Rebecca Night’s gifted script for Anne Boleyn: The Musical is a unique triumph – bold, intelligent, and profoundly moving. That this remarkable work should be performed at her childhood home is especially powerful and fitting.”
This world premiere promises to be a memorable theatrical event, performed in the very place where her story began.
Learn more about the people behind the production.
Watch Emily Lane perform “YOU” a song that she will perform in the show
Book your visit to Hever Castle & Gardens.
Within the grounds of the Hever Castle Estate, there are two opportunities for you to stay the night with us.
Hever Castle has played host to many important events and celebrations for over 600 years. In 1903 when William Waldorf Astor set about restoring Hever Castle to its former glory, he added the Astor Wing, to accommodate his family and guests, before creating a lake and the spectacular Italian Garden to house his impressive collection of ancient Greek and Roman statuary.
There are multiple places to eat & drink across the Hever Castle Estate. Select between the Castle & Gardens and Golf Club below to discover more.
Set in the mature grounds of the Hever Castle Estate, Hever Castle Golf Club is a 27 hole Kent golf course that will encourage and inspire all golf enthusiasts.
Set in the mature grounds of the Hever Castle Estate, the Wellbeing Centre consists of five smart treatment rooms.
