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Wolf Hall Continues in York

Historic Barley Hall has announced that it will continue to display six of the most sumptuous costumes from the smash-hit BBC drama for another 12 months by helping to give inspiration to the cast of York Shakespeare Project production of ‘Henry VIII.’

Duke of Norfolk and Jane Boleyn – Wolf Hall Comes to York at Barley Hall

Deceit, betrayal and lust, these are the key ingredients for any good story and York’s medieval townhouse, Barley Hall, will continue to play host to a special costume exhibition this year that explores how these emotions ruled England during the reign of one of history’s most famous monarchs, Henry VIII.

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Paul Whiting, marketing manager for Barley Hall, comments, “Henry’s reign is always seen as one of the most politically turbulent of English history. The divorce from Rome, the wives, the palace intrigue has all cemented our continued interest in the Tudors and this is something we will continue to showcase at Barley Hall, with help of the costumes from Wolf Hall.”

Indeed, the six costumes from the BBC series acted as inspiration to some of the cast from the York Shakespeare Project’s new production of the Bard’s ‘Henry VIII’ which runs 30th March to 1st April at Kings Manor, where Henry installed the Council of North following the dissolution of the monasteries in the 1530s.

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“For the cast of ‘Henry VIII’ the costumes provided a first-hand insight into typical dress of the time period and clearly showed the status of different characters, vital to the play and the history,” explained the show’s director Ben Prusiner. “The setting of Barley Hall itself also allowed them to explore the plays lighter moments, such as playing with a historical deck of cards, which audiences will also get a chance to play with at the King’s Manor performances, and darker decisions, such as Cardinal Wolsey looming over the King at his writing desk while he signs papers of state.”

The extension of the ‘Wolf Hall Comes to York’ exhibition, which includes items worn by actors including Mark Gatiss and ‘The Crown’ star Claire Foy has come as welcome news to the medieval attraction in the heart of York, as it has helped bring new visitors to the Hall during a difficult year.

Paul Whiting adds, “Thanks to the arrival of the six sumptuous costumes in September we have seen a steady increase in visitors to the Hall following a slower start to the year with the closure of JORVIK whilst it is being re-imagined, Christmas and February Half Term proved especially popular. Having access to these beautiful pieces has helped bring a new audience into our beautiful medieval hall and allow us to showcase York’s connections to Henry VIII and the Tudor court.”

Barley Hall is open every day 10am to 4pm until 31st March 2017 and then will open 10am to 5pm from 1st April. Tickets are £6 for adults, £4.50 for concessions and £3 for children and are valid for 12 months. For more information please visit www.barleyhall.co.uk/wolfhall.

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You can book your tickets for York Shakespeare Project’s ‘Henry VIII’ by visiting http://www.yorkshakespeareproject.org/ysp/henry-viii/.

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