Showtime and the Alliance Second Life Library are pleased to announce that episodes one and two
of the new series “The Tudors” will be shown on Second Life Library Renaissance Island. “The Tudors”
provides a new spin on the early life of King Henry VIII of England and debuted on Showtime on April 1.
Episode 1 will be shown on Renaissance Island on Saturday May 12 at 10 am sl and 5 pm sl; Episode
2 will be shown on Renaissance Island on Sunday May 13 at 10 am sl and 5 pm sl.

Renaissance Island is one of ten library islands and is an historical roleplay and educational site for
teachers, students, and anyone interested in the Elizabethan era of England in the late sixteenth century.
Residents of Second Life can dress in period clothing, rent cottages, a Renaissance era shop, visit a tavern, go to the Globe
Theater, participate in music and events and experience life of that time. On some occasions, residents
may catch a glimpse of Queen Elizabeth herself, William Shakespeare, or other characters of the period.
Renaissance Island is still being built but the village and other parts are nearly complete. Building and
organization of Renaissance Island were done by JJ Drinkwater, Aldo Stern, Alphonsus Peck, Minerva
Enoch, Rosmairta Kilara, Moonbeam Northmead, Korrigan Keynes, Rain Noonan, and others.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers plays the part of King Henry VIII in this ten part series. Henry was never intended
for the throne of England. However, the death of his older brother Arthur at the age of 15 and his taking of
his dead brother’s bride, propelled the young prince into the limelight and laid the foundations for one of the
most spectacular reigns in English history. The young Henry VIII was an artist, musician, theologian and sportsman —
the perfect Renaissance prince — but the failure of his first wife Katherine of Aragon to produce a male heir
brought out his darker side. Henry could be cruel and capricious, using arbitrary execution as an instrument of
Royal policy. In his bid to produce an heir he would dismantle the
established church in England, loot its possessions, and set himself up as an absolute monarch. By the time of his death,
his desire to maintain his own magnificent dynasty had seen him
marry six times, deplete the nation’s coffers, and cut a swath through the English nobility.
Yet a new age had been born in the fires of change and though the years had transformed a Renaissance prince
into a sickly, overweight tyrant, his rule marked a sea-change in the fortunes of England.
For more information on the series go to http://www.sho.com/site/tudors/characters.do

Join the library and the residents of Renaissance Island in watching and discussing this exciting series. Other
events are being planned that weekend to provide discussion, information, and other programs to introduce
Second Life residents to Tudor England. Keep your eye on this blog for further information on
accompanying events. For more information contact Rain Noonan in world or by email
at rainnoonansl@yahoo.com or Korrigan Keynes at mclindbloom@alliancelibrarysystem.com
Image courtesy of Showtime

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