The definition of gratuitous is "done without good reason; uncalled for." The dance and song at the end of Act I with a giant gold inflated penis and balls on stage was gratuitous. The second-wave-feminism-themed content was heavy-handed but a reasonable interpretive choice. But the explicit sexual content was neither appropriate nor well-executed. It was adolescent humor for an audience with no adolescents (no parent should take their child to this play, sadly). Jamie Ballard and Bea Segura gave outstanding performances as Woolsey and Katherine in the second half and *almost* redeemed the night. But the Globe has lost its way if it thinks that shiny penises are what Shakespeare needs to be relevant in the 21st century.

Absolutely oppressive and crude production, constantly harping on feminist themes. As if you need to scream that Henry VIII was hard on women; it’s obvious. The current regime at the Globe obviously see it as their mission to send us all to re-education camp. Uninspired costumes. However, the actor who played Wolsey and the actress who played Catherine of Aragon were good.

Absolutely awful. Probably the worse production I’ve ever had the misfortune to witness. I found it insulting, pathetic, ridiculous and not in the slightest way a worthy interpretation of Shakespeares work. The actors came across as little more than third rate drama students , the direction was appalling and we left feeling robbed of our ticket money and angry that The Globe had the audacity to stage such a shambolic production - hated every second !!!!!

The Bard would not be impressed. Save your money.

Not worth it. Adolescent humor and fake feminism

I have just done something I never thought I would - leave a production of a Shakespeare play at the interval. Yet this latest interpretation of "Henry VIII", was so puerile, incoherent, populist and contaminated with a drum banging feminist perspective it left me no choice. It was tacky and diluted by the "collaboration" of Hannah Khalil. There are some writers that need no extra help and Shakespeare is certainly one! It was a chance to see a rarely performed play - and to see it massacred, disrespected and changed beyond recognition has made me inordinately sad.