Raison Leads ANNE BOLEYN at Shakespeare's Globe, 7/24-8/21

Miranda Raison, best known for her role as 'Jo Portman' in the BBC's hit drama 'Spooks' and as 'Abbey' in ITV's 'Married Single Other,' is to play the title role in Howard Brenton's new play Anne BoleyN at Shakespeare's Globe. The play receives its world premiere on 24 July and runs until 21 August 2010.

Miranda Raison is currently appearing on the Globe stage as Shakespeare's characterisation of Anne Boleyn in HENRY VIII. Her other stage credits include THE RIVALS at Salisbury Playhouse and THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER at the Chichester Festival Theatre. Her television credits include 'Holby City,' 'Doctor Who,' 'Heartbeat,' and 'Perfect Strangers' by Stephen Poliakoff. Miranda will perform alongside Anthony Howell, well-known as Detective Milner in ITV's 'Foyle's War,' as the legendary Tudor King Henry VIII.

In this play, Howard Brenton sets out to challenge the traditional assumptions of Anne Boleyn as a pawn manipulated by an ambitious father or as a sexually licentious predator, even a witch. Here, Brenton puts a very different Anne on the Globe stage - a witty and confident woman with controversial religious ideals, taking on the vicious world of Tudor politics.

Brenton is a prolific and often controversial writer. His many plays include NEVER SO GOOD, PAUL, ROMAN'S IN BRITAIN, PRAVDA (with David Hare) and THE CHURCHILL PLAY. In July this year, Brenton also presents two stage adaptations - Danton's DEATH at the National Theatre and THE RAGGED TROUSERED PHILANTHROPIST at Chichester Festival Theatre. Brenton's writing for television includes 13 episodes for the BAFTA award winning drama series 'Spooks,' and he has also written essays, poetry and a novel.