Watch: 1536 celebrates star-studded opening night in London

1536, the hot ticket in the West End this summer, opened this week to rave reviews. Fresh off a sold-out run at the Almeida and now playing at The Ambassadors Theatre, this is the play everyone is talking about.

Watch the highlights of the star-studded opening night, with Margot Robbie, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg, Baz Lurhmann and more in attendance.

Book tickets for 1536 at the Ambassadors Theatre

Watch the 1536 opening night trailer

Opening night of 1536, featuring stars including LuckyChap’s Margot Robbie, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg, Baz Lurhmann and more

This darkly comic play from Ava Pickett follows three friends in 1536 Essex who love to meet at the proverbial watercooler (in this case, a gnarled tree in a clearing) and exchange gossip. As news comes in from London that King Henry has arrested Anne Boleyn, the three friends begin to see the parallels in their own lives.

The cast of 1536

Liv Hill (Jane), Siena Kelly (Anna), and Tanya Reynolds (Mariella) reprise their original roles following the run at the Almeida. Joining the cast are are Oliver Johnstone (All My Sons) as Richard and George Kemp (Bridgerton) as William.

The company is completed by understudies Harry Bradley (Richard/William), Saroja-Lily Ratnavel (Jane/Mariella), and Sydney Spencer (Anna).

Award-winning development

Playwright Ava Pickett won both the Critics’ Circle Theatre Award and the Standard Theatre Award for Most Promising Playwright and the play was nominated for Best New Play at the 2026 Olivier Awards.

The creative team includes director Lyndsey Turner (Chimerica, The Crucible, Under Milk Wood) with design by Max Jones, lighting by Jack Knowles and sound design by Tingying Dong.