In this paper, Leahy argues that
Shakespeare’s portrayal of Anne Boleyn in King Henry VIII has traditionally been regarded
as one that does not take account of her ambiguous historical position, and he goes on
to examine this portrayal in the light of her own coronation procession, as well as her
representation in the coronation procession of her daughter, Elizabeth. These
representations of Boleyn are then set against the famous letter written by Sir Henry
Wotton to describe the burning down of the Globe Theatre during a production of
King Henry VIII in 1613. Set within such a context, Leahy argues that the
representation of Anne in the play is not what it has traditionally been made out to be,
but demonstrates the difficulties inherent in staging such a problematic figure
