A Rosser youth is taking centre stage in a major production at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre.
Eleven-year-old Blake Beachell is part of The Last Wife, now running through April 18 at the John Hirsch Mainstage, where he plays Eddie, the young son of King Henry VIII.
Beachell said his interest in acting began through school and church productions.
“I like watching movies and seeing people act, and I thought it would be something cool for me to do,” he said.
He added working with Royal MTC has been a meaningful step toward pursuing larger theatre opportunities.
“Just realizing this could lead to other opportunities and bigger roles is exciting,” he said. “It’s taught me to be more confident on stage while still being true to myself.”
Beachell said he relates to his character, describing Eddie as a young person trying to live up to expectations while navigating life in a royal family.
His favourite part of the experience so far has been the technical rehearsal, where he saw the full production come together for the first time. He said audiences can look forward to a particularly dynamic scene between Eddie and his uncle that involves detailed choreography.
The production tells the story of Katherine Parr — the final wife of Henry VIII — through a contemporary lens, blending historical drama with modern conversations about gender, power and political agency.
Written by Canadian playwright Kate Hennig, The Last Wife explores Parr’s complex and often precarious position within the Tudor court as she navigates an obligatory marriage while quietly advocating for Henry’s daughters and their right to rule.
Artistic director Kelly Thornton said the decision to stage the production was driven by a desire to spark discussion around current social and political issues.
“Programming The Last Wife came as a direct response to the second failed attempt of a woman to win the White House, even against an opponent who challenged democracy itself. It made me want to agitate a deeper conversation,” Thornton said in a news release. “While The Last Wife is written under the guise of history, Hennig is provoking a dialogue very much about today, asking us what we are willing to risk to effect change.”
Hennig’s work reframes a largely overlooked historical figure, presenting Katherine Parr not simply as a survivor but as an influential force in shaping England’s future.
She said the idea for The Last Wife began in 2011 during the Arab Spring, when she noticed that most political leaders at the forefront of global change were men, prompting her to consider the role of women in shaping history.
A longtime enthusiast of both general and women’s history, Hennig said reimagining Parr’s story felt like a natural fit.
“She was young and beautiful, and after reading about the influence she had on Mary I and Elizabeth I, it was just so fascinating,” Hennig said. “We’ve been handed down such a male point of view on women in history, and when we incorporate the female perspective, their stories become much more filled out.”
Blending contemporary and historical themes, Hennig said the play connects past struggles with ongoing conversations about equality.
“The play is about the force of patriarchy for women and men,” she said. “The women are just trying to assert their own individual desires in an environment where the world stands between them.”
Hennig was in Winnipeg for the production, which she described as a special experience, offering a fresh perspective on her work each time it is staged.
“The energy the audience creates is shared with everyone else, and that energy is unique each and every night,” she said. “I have been doing this for about 45 years, and experiencing this energy never gets dull.”
She added one of her favourite elements of the play is watching the negotiation of power between Katherine and Henry unfold, raising the question: how do people negotiate power within marriage and family?
Hennig said audiences can expect an emotional and thought-provoking experience.
“The audience will laugh, they will cry, and they will see themselves on the stage,” she said. “They will see a classic engagement between the sexes and leave with a sense of hope.”
The Last Wife runs through April 18 at the John Hirsch Mainstage and is recommended for mature audiences due to strong language, depictions of violence and sexual themes. Tickets and show information are available online and through the Royal MTC box office.
