The Cotswold Players are counting down the days to their production of Anne Boleyn which gets underway in late November.

The Stroud-based amateur dramatics group will be taking to the stage at the Cotswold Playhouse on Tuesday 20th November for the opening night of Anne Boleyn, which runs for five nights, ending on Saturday 24th November.

The Cotswold Players have spent the last four months rehearsing for the show, and Director Hannah McDonald is confident her team of actors and backstage staff will do themselves proud when the curtain goes up for the first performance.

She said: “We’re in a confident mood, rehearsals have gone very well, and we’re all looking forward to the opening night now. We’ve managed to assemble a truly fantastic cast and a dedicated team of backstage staff.

“It’s a huge scope to take on in two hours but it’s such a brilliantly written play with short, sharp scenes. It’s not a prolonged historical drama it’s a witty, intense play with beautifully romantic moments.

“It’s also a really exciting play that provides audience members with a different view of Anne Boleyn. A lot of what we know about her comes from gossip and hearsay. The play challenges the traditional view of Anne Boleyn being a manipulative person, and instead concentrates on the role she played in the Protestant Reformation.

“We started rehearsals way back in the middle of August. The final few weeks of rehearsals are when the real fun begins and then it’s all systems go for the opening show on 20th November.”

Anne Boleyn will be the third show Hannah has directed for the Cotswold Players, having originally joined the drama society in an acting capacity.

Hannah continued: “I joined the Cotswold Players in 2010, originally as a performing member. I’ve been in various productions over the years and had a great time being on stage.

“Four years ago I decided to try directing for the first time since my college days. I started as an assistant director for one of our Christmas productions and have since directed two productions as principle director, so Anne Boleyn will be my third.

“Being a director means imparting my vision and my view of what the production should be. The process starts with me finding a play that I’m passionate about then thinking about cast lists and the practical things like designing a set and appointing various backstage team members.

“With Anne Boleyn we’ve got a fantastic set and all the cast members will be wearing traditional costumes. It’s going to be a fantastic show, we can’t wait for opening night!”