A new immersive theatrical experience exploring the life of Katharine of Aragon will tour cathedrals across the UK this autumn and winter, alongside a programme of free library pop-up events.
Created by Slaget Theatre in association with Whispered Tales, KATHARINE combines binaural audio technology, contemporary dance and site-specific storytelling to present a fresh perspective on the life of Henry VIII’s first wife.
Marking the 500th anniversary of the King’s Great Matter, the production places Katharine of Aragon at the centre of her own story. Audiences will experience the performance through headphones, with immersive sound design transforming historic venues into intimate theatrical spaces.
Written by playwright Nicola Werenowska, KATHARINE seeks to move beyond traditional historical narratives and explore the queen’s life through a contemporary lens, drawing connections between themes of identity, migration, power and belonging.
Performer Olena Hrabchak will appear throughout the guided experience, combining movement and physical storytelling with the unfolding audio narrative. The production is directed by Esther Simpson of Whispered Tales, with choreography by Lisa Simpson.
Alongside the cathedral tour, a series of free library pop-up events will take place across Essex and Suffolk. These events will feature extracts from the show’s immersive soundtrack as well as a newly commissioned audio work exploring Katharine’s love of books and commitment to women’s education.
Hazel Edwards, South East Area Director of Arts Council England, said: “We are pleased to invest £70,340 of National Lottery funding in this innovative reimagining of Katharine’s story. It is brilliant to see high-quality creative work, rooted in Tendring one of our Priority Places, reaching such a diverse mix of local spaces—from our historic cathedrals to libraries at the heart of communities in North Essex and Suffolk.”
Writer Nicola Werenowska said: “I’ve long been fascinated by the stories of real women, women who history has the tendency to erase or reduce to a mere footnote. Henry VIII’s first wife, Katharine of Aragon, is one such woman. With KATHARINE I wanted to move past the history to her story, to reclaim her narrative from a vital and fresh female perspective.
“The more we explored, the more we found how deeply her struggles as a migrant and political figure 500 years ago echo the upheavals and societal challenges we face in today’s world.”
Director Esther Simpson added: “We wanted to create a theatrical experience that breaks out of conventional auditoriums to inhabit spaces steeped in history and community life. By blending a live performer with cutting-edge binaural audio technology, we are turning historical walls into an atmospheric soundscape where audiences don’t just watch her story—they find themselves immersed in it.”
Tour dates include performances at St Nicholas Church, Harwich, Chester Cathedral and Peterborough Cathedral, as well as a VIP performance at Colchester Castle.
Tickets and further information are available here.
