ABSTRACT
My main purpose in this chapter is to consider the differing contexts of a number of interludes in or around the court of Henry VIII with regard to performance. In order to do so I shall review some aspects of the extensive details available on the entertainments provided for the king’s pleasure or needs, especially in the early years of his reign. I shall then turn to some details apparent in interludes that may be considered close to the court. Before doing so, however, there are two concepts that need initial exploration.
