The Enterlude of the Godly Queen Hester
Sunday 23rd March 2025
The anonymous English Enterlude of Godly Queene Hester (c. 1529) is a fascinating play, unperformed since the sixteenth century. Ostensibly in praise of Esther, heroine of Jewish history, the play is actually a political satire about the demise of Cardinal Wolsey. The fall of Wolsey, who had been the monarch’s right-hand man, was a key moment in the reign of Henry VIII. Assuerus, King of Persia, stands for Henry, while Aman, the model of the evil counsellor, for Wolsey. Henry’s wife, Katherine of Aragon, is idealised in the figure of Hester, who fills a traditional role for virtuous royal women by interceding with her husband, but also boldly argues that queens should exhibit the same virtues as kings and can perfectly well govern kingdoms when their husbands are away fighting wars! She thus anticipates the strong secular heroines of Shakespearean comedy.
Originally, the play would have been performed by a boys’ company so it is appropriate that it will be staged by Edward’s Boys (https://edwardsboys.org.uk). This company, from King Edward VI School, Stratford-upon-Avon, has, over the last two decades, revolutionised our understanding of the early modern repertoire. Alongside the English Enterlude, they will also present a short purimshpil, a Jewish folk play. The purim plays (still a living tradition in Yiddish) tell the story of Esther in a very different mode, celebrating the rescue of the Jewish people by their heroine in farcical style. The production is part of the WOMARD project (https://womard.org) which explores connections between Jewish, Christian and Islamic Theatre and is sponsored by the SNSF.
The Edward’s Boys double bill will provide a valuable resource for scholars, but also offers wider audiences with a wonderful sense of the living heritage of an historical conflict of enormous importance – some of which had a sharp political intent.
5.00pm - Doors open for drinks reception in the Old Library
6.00pm – Introduction in the Great Chamber from Professor Elisabeth Dutton (University of Fribourg and Project Lead)
6.10pm – The Enterlude of the Godly Queen Hester
7.05pm – Break
7.25pm – Purim Spiel (Parody version)
7.45pm – Finish
Ticket options
Sunday 23rd March 2025
The anonymous English Enterlude of Godly Queene Hester (c. 1529) is a fascinating play, unperformed since the sixteenth century. Ostensibly in praise of Esther, heroine of Jewish history, the play is actually a political satire about the demise of Cardinal Wolsey. The fall of Wolsey, who had been the monarch’s right-hand man, was a key moment in the reign of Henry VIII. Assuerus, King of Persia, stands for Henry, while Aman, the model of the evil counsellor, for Wolsey. Henry’s wife, Katherine of Aragon, is idealised in the figure of Hester, who fills a traditional role for virtuous royal women by interceding with her husband, but also boldly argues that queens should exhibit the same virtues as kings and can perfectly well govern kingdoms when their husbands are away fighting wars! She thus anticipates the strong secular heroines of Shakespearean comedy.
Originally, the play would have been performed by a boys’ company so it is appropriate that it will be staged by Edward’s Boys (https://edwardsboys.org.uk). This company, from King Edward VI School, Stratford-upon-Avon, has, over the last two decades, revolutionised our understanding of the early modern repertoire. Alongside the English Enterlude, they will also present a short purimshpil, a Jewish folk play. The purim plays (still a living tradition in Yiddish) tell the story of Esther in a very different mode, celebrating the rescue of the Jewish people by their heroine in farcical style. The production is part of the WOMARD project (https://womard.org) which explores connections between Jewish, Christian and Islamic Theatre and is sponsored by the SNSF.
The Edward’s Boys double bill will provide a valuable resource for scholars, but also offers wider audiences with a wonderful sense of the living heritage of an historical conflict of enormous importance – some of which had a sharp political intent.
5.00pm - Doors open for drinks reception in the Old Library
6.00pm – Introduction in the Great Chamber from Professor Elisabeth Dutton (University of Fribourg and Project Lead)
6.10pm – The Enterlude of the Godly Queen Hester
7.05pm – Break
7.25pm – Purim Spiel (Parody version)
7.45pm – Finish
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