Nell Gwynn
by
Jessica Swale
music by
Nigel Hess
Directed by Celia Bonner and Mike Rogerson
3rd - 11th December 2021
They’ve disgraced our trade. Ruined our art. They’ve put a woman on
the stage.
It is 1660. The Puritans have run away with their drab grey tails
between their legs. Charles II has exploded on to the scene with a
love of all things loud, French and sexy. And at Drury Lane, a young
Nell Gwynn is selling oranges for sixpence. Little does she know
who’s watching.
Nell Gwynn charts the rise of an unlikely heroine, from her roots in
Coal Yard Alley to her success as Britain’s most celebrated actress,
and her hard-won place in the heart of the king. But at a time when
women are second-class citizens, can her charm and spirit protect her
from the dangers of the court? And at what cost?
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