Can a king who killed most of his wives be rendered, in dramatic terms, as a human being? What kind of historical context should we apply to such a story? A group of gifted young British actors takes on those questions in this thrilling on-and-off-stage exploration of Act II, Scene 4, from Shakespeare's Henry VIII. Queen Catherine's desperate plea for reason and compassion from her recalcitrant husband and the cunning Wolsey takes shape through expertly guided rehearsals and a polished performance, followed by a heady conversation among the actors.

Encoded with permission for digital streaming by Infobase on March 03, 2011. Learn360 is distributed by Infobase for Films for the Humanities & Sciences, Cambridge Educational, Meridian Education, and Shopware.

Shakespeare's Globe, London: Introduction to Shakespeare (1:02) -- About Shakespeare's "Henry VIII" (1:43) -- Commentary on "Henry VIII" (2:19) -- "Henry VIII": Rehearsal and Performance (8:06) -- Discussion of "Henry VIII" (0:47) -- Credits: "Henry VIII": Young Actors in Training (1:01).