June 21, 2025
Williamsburg Art & Historical Center, Brooklyn

Heretic Weekend is the inaugural event in RJTheatre Co.’s annual series dedicated to reclaiming and reimagining the stories of misunderstood women throughout history. This first edition centers on Anne Boleyn, explored through theater, visual art, and historical scholarship.

PROGRAMMING

Staged Reading: Heretic

A time-jumping historical drama by Emma Tadmor reframing Anne Boleyn as a radical thinker—silenced by power, yet unwilling to disappear. The play challenges traditional narratives of Anne as seductress or victim, and instead positions her as a woman of fierce intellect and dangerous ambition.

Short Plays Series

A curated lineup of new short works by emerging and established playwrights. Each piece offers a distinct feminist lens on Anne’s voice, mythology, or historical legacy, presented in partially staged readings throughout the day.

Featured Artwork: Alma Gershuni

A contemporary portrait of Anne Boleyn by international artist Alma Gershuni was on display alongside a written reflection on the creative process. The work offered a striking visual reinterpretation of Anne’s image and was available for purchase in support of the company’s fundraising efforts.

Keynote Lecture: Dr. Lynsey Wood

Tudor historian Dr. Lynsey Wood presented a live lecture on Anne’s education, political influence, and the threat she posed to Tudor power structures—offering a deeper historical context to the day’s artistic programming.