Nell Gwynn: a racy 17th century introduction to the history of British performance in the feminist mode! A delight at the Gladstone theatre
Nell Gwynn with Bronwyn Steinberg and Phillip Merriman
A British Comedy by Jessica Swale which won the Olivier award for best new Comedy in 2016, is based on individuals who really existed and whose close links with present day official titles of the monarchy, caused a bit of discomfort for some recent British productions where certain references to certain Dukes had to be changed “out of politeness” for the royals who came to see the show in London.
Nell Gwynn, the first woman to appear on the British stage in the 17th Century, highlights the rise of women on the British stage, where Nell Gwynn’s scandalous relationship with Charles II , who loved theatre, and declared he wanted to see women on the stage, caused many tongues to wag but provided excellent material for this tantalizing show,infused with a real love for performance. Director Crowder has caught it all. …