Henry VIII Monologues & Audition Scenes
13 audition scenes from Henry VIII. Available as monologue & duologue & groups — ready to download for self-tapes, drama school auditions, and practice.
Written by William Shakespeare
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Showing 13 of 13 scenes from Henry VIII
Katharine's Last Wishes
Characters: Katharine
Queen Katharine, nearing death, delivers her final requests to Capucius. She pleads for the well-being of her daughter and the fair treatment of her loyal servants, showcasing her dignity and selflessness despite her fall from grace.
Wolsey Reads His Fall
Characters: Cardinal Wolsey
Cardinal Wolsey realizes his downfall is imminent after accidentally sending the King a private inventory of his vast wealth and a secret letter to the Pope.
Buckingham's Farewell
Characters: Buckingham
The Duke of Buckingham addresses a crowd of sympathizers as he is led to his execution. He maintains his innocence of treason while forgiving those who conspired against him and accepting the legality of his sentence.
Wolsey Professes Loyalty
Characters: Cardinal Wolsey
Cardinal Wolsey defends his integrity and legal authority before Queen Katharine during her trial, denying that he has instigated the King's desire for an annulment.
Queen Katharine and Wolsey: The Challenge
Characters: Queen Katharine, Cardinal Wolsey
Queen Katharine confronts Cardinal Wolsey during her divorce trial, accusing him of instigating the King's dissatisfaction with their marriage and refusing to accept him as her judge.
Queen Katharine and Wolsey: A Cause Betrayed
Characters: QUEEN KATHARINE, CARDINAL WOLSEY, CARDINAL CAMPEIUS
Cardinal Wolsey and Cardinal Campeius visit Queen Katharine to discuss her impending divorce from King Henry VIII. Katharine, suspicious of their motives, insists on speaking openly in English rather than Latin to defend her honor and integrity.
Anne and the Old Lady: Ambition and Pity
Characters: Anne, Old Lady
Anne Boleyn expresses her deep sympathy for Queen Katherine, who is being cast aside by King Henry. An Old Lady mocks Anne's claims that she would never want to be Queen, highlighting the gap between Anne's stated piety and the reality of courtly ambition.
Katharine and Griffith: Rest Amid Visions
Characters: KATHARINE, GRIFFITH, PATIENCE
A dying Queen Katharine discusses the legacy of Cardinal Wolsey with her loyal servant Griffith. After falling into a visionary sleep where she sees spirits, she awakens to describe the heavenly banquet she was invited to attend.
King Henry and the Christening
Characters: KING HENRY VIII
King Henry VIII celebrates the christening of his daughter, Elizabeth, declaring a public holiday. The play concludes with a meta-theatrical epilogue addressing the audience's reception of the performance.
King Henry and Cranmer: A Friend's Warning
Characters: KING HENRY VIII, CRANMER
King Henry VIII informs Archbishop Cranmer of the serious allegations brought against him by the council. Despite the threat of imprisonment in the Tower, Cranmer displays humble integrity and faith in his own innocence.
Wolsey and Surrey: Fallen Greatness
Characters: Cardinal Wolsey, Surrey
A heated confrontation between the Earl of Surrey and Cardinal Wolsey. Surrey accuses the Cardinal of corruption, the execution of his father-in-law, and treasonous dealings with the Pope, while Wolsey dismisses the claims as malice.
Buckingham and Norfolk: The Cardinal's Pride
Characters: BUCKINGHAM, NORFOLK
The Duke of Norfolk describes the magnificent meeting between King Henry VIII and the King of France at the Field of the Cloth of Gold to the Duke of Buckingham, who was unable to attend due to illness.
Buckingham Denounces the Cardinal
Characters: Buckingham
The Duke of Buckingham voices his suspicions regarding Cardinal Wolsey's corrupt influence over the King and his secret dealings with the Emperor Charles V to undermine the peace between England and France.
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About Henry VIII Audition Scenes
Looking for audition scenes from Henry VIII? Our collection includes 13 carefully curated monologue and duologue and groups, each formatted and ready for immediate use in auditions, self-tapes, and drama school applications.
Written by William Shakespeare, these scenes capture the essence of the production and provide rich material for actors at every level.
Every scene includes character breakdowns, context notes, and director's notes to help you prepare. All scenes are available as downloadable PDFs with Pro membership.
How to use Henry VIII scenes for auditions
Choose a scene that matches the tone and casting type of your audition. Use the character breakdowns to understand the emotional arc, then download the PDF to rehearse. Our scenes work perfectly for self-tapes, in-person auditions, drama school applications, and acting class exercises.
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