Ava Pickett’s 1536 to be adapted into a TV series by the BBC

The BBC has commissioned 1536, a new drama series based on Ava Pickett’s award-winning play of the same name. The series will air on BBC One and stream on BBC iPlayer, and is produced by Drama Republic.

The eight-part series is set in Tudor England during the events surrounding the arrest of Anne Boleyn by Henry VIII. The story follows three young women, Anna, Mariella and Jane, living in an Essex village as news of the Queen’s arrest reaches them and begins to affect their lives.

Pickett said today: “1536 is something I am immensely proud of and I feel so lucky and privileged to have the chance to bring Anna, Jane and Mariella to a wider audience and to build out their lives even more. In a world where every decision made in the corridors of power ricochets through all of our lives, this story feels more relevant than ever. I’m so grateful to Lindsay Salt for being such a champion of it from the start.”

Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, adds: “From the moment we saw Ava’s play we knew that we had to have the TV version on the BBC. Visceral, funny, provocative, timely and full of courage, this is a piece of work like no other. Ava is an exceptional voice, so we feel very lucky to be working with her and the brilliant team at Drama Republic to bring three iconic female characters to the screen.”

The series is written by Pickett, who also serves as an executive producer alongside Jude Liknaitzky, Roanna Benn, Rebecca de Souza and Chloe Beeson. Further details are to be announced.

Margot Robbie’s production company LuckyChap recently joined the stage show’s producing team alongside Sonia Friedman Productions, Annapurna Theatre and the Almeida Theatre.

Robbie said that the move came after the LuckyChap team read the script, and she approached Friedman to explore possible collaboration. Heralding Pickett’s work as a “phenomenal piece of art”, Robbie added: “At LuckyChap, we’re always drawn to bold, female-driven stories, and Ava’s brilliant play is exactly that. We’re absolutely thrilled to be coming on board as co-producers for its West End transfer. The show is fearless, witty and emotionally resonant, and it gives voice to women whose stories still feel timely today.”

The West End production follows a sold-out engagement at the Almeida, where it premiered last year, being described as “an impressive, involving evening marking Pickett as a real talent to watch.”

Pickett’s debut script has won her the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize and the award for Best Writer at the Stage Debut Awards. She was also singled out as one of WhatsOnStage’s theatre faces to watch in 2026.

This year, she will also premiere two new shows – The Manningtree Witches at Mercury Theatre in Colchester and Bloodsport: After Helen of Troy, opening at Stratford East. On the film side, she’s also cooking up a big-screen version based on the life of Joan of Arc with Baz Luhrmann.

You can listen to her discuss all of these projects on the WhatsOnStage Podcast: