A dramatic plot twist as Hilary’s writer exits
HE WON Tony Awards for turning the first two books of Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall trilogy into blockbuster theatre productions – so why is the name of playwright Mike Poulton missing from posters for the forthcoming final instalment?
In a real-world saga that could come straight from the murky world of political intrigue chronicled in the books, I can report that dramatist Mike was strangely ‘unavailable’ to adapt Hilary’s third Tudor-era novel, The Mirror And The Light – which will debut to much fanfare at the Gielgud Theatre this month.
West End whispers indicate a falling out could be behind his absence.
My theatreland mole says: ‘Word is that Mike didn’t want to write again for Hilary, even though it would surely have been the pinnacle of his career to complete the adaption of such a major trilogy.
‘The rumour in the West End is he and Hilary had a row over authorship last time – Hilary wanted more credit. Mike walked away acrimoniously after a power struggle which wouldn’t have looked out of place in the books.’
The Wolf Hall trilogy charts the rise and fall of Thomas Cromwell amid the whispers and plots of the court of Henry VIII, and Mike’s agency describes the first two plays as ‘his versions’.
I found a Broadway programme for those plays – which ran at the same time on alternate nights six years ago – and it carries an unusual
‘clarifying statement’ that hints at the current problem: ‘These Broadway versions of Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies have been edited by Hilary Mantel from Mike Poulton’s original scripts first presented by the Royal Shakespeare Company in the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, and subsequently, with changes made by the adaptor, at the Aldwych Theatre.’
‘What a mouthful,’ adds my man. ‘It shows that even back then there must have been some bad blood.’ A spokesman for the play conceded the statement was unusual, adding: ‘The billing is really clear this time.’ Hilary’s new playwright is actor Ben Miles, 55, who also plays Cromwell in the production. His name comes second on the poster.