A queen’s story deserves a regal sound; and at Anne Boleyn The Musical, that sound is unlike anything audiences have heard before in UK open-air theatre.

Staged in the historic grounds of Hever Castle, the production faced a unique challenge: how to deliver the grandeur of a full symphonic score without disturbing the peace of the village, hotel, and castle visitors over weeks of performances. The solution? Record the music in advance and make it immersive.

Our composer Sam Gevers, together with sound engineer Pieterjan Seynaeve and orchestrator Dominique Vanhaegenberg, captured a sweeping orchestral score with a world-class ensemble. But this wasn’t just about convenience. It was an opportunity.

Working with leading theatre sound designers the Ringham Brothers, we’ve turned that pre-recorded score into a three-dimensional soundscape using binaural audio—a rarely used technique in outdoor productions. It recreates how the human ear naturally hears, allowing music and effects to move around you in 360°. You don’t just hear the show; you feel inside it.

Each performance blends this cinematic sound design with the raw intensity of live vocals. The cast sings live, every night, bringing urgency and emotion to every moment—while the music surrounds the audience with remarkable clarity and depth.

It’s a theatrical first in the UK. And it’s perfectly suited to Anne’s story: bold, ambitious, and utterly unforgettable.