Overview
Synopsis
London, 1660. King Charles II has ascended to the English throne and restores theatre and performance following the Puritannical reign of Oliver Cromwell. He lives a hedonistic lifestyle, with a love of all things flamboyant, extravagant and sexy. At the playhouse in Drury Lane, orange-hawker, Nell Gwynn, is making waves of her own. When she takes to the stage as one of the first female actors, she causes bawdy havoc in a male-dominated world, and soon comes to the attention of the King. Rising from her roots in the slums, she becomes the nation’s most celebrated actress and, infamously, the favorite mistress of the King. However, her meteoric rise to fame comes with its own dangers. With her family and her friends at risk, Nell must decide where her future lies….on the stage or at the Palace.
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Context
Jessica Swale began writing Nell Gwynn in 2013 and an early version of the play was performed by students at LAMDA and directed by Raz Shaw, as part of the 2014 Long Project. The production then premiered at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in 2015 with Gugu Mbatha-Raw in the title role. In February, the production transferred to the Apollo Theatre in London’s West End with Gemma Arterton taking over the role of Nell. This production won the Olivier Award for Best New Comedy and Gemma Arterton was
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Act One
In the theatre in Drury Lane, London, the young actor, Ned Spigget, steps forward to deliver the prologue of John Dryden’s latest play. However, he is nervous and still learning his trade, and he forgets his lines. When he is heckled by the audience, local orange-hawker, Nell Gwynn, steps in to saucily put the heckler back in his place. She encourages Ned to carry on with the play. The renowned actor, Charles Hart, then takes over from Ned and the chorus bursts into song.
Later
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Character Portrayals
See StageAgent members who have performed roles in Nell Gwynn.
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Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher