Performed at the Cockpit Theatre at Shakespeare North Playhouse to an audience literally packed to the rafters, a most entertainingly humorous play, written by Jessica Swale and directed by Bryony Shanahan. A co-production with Theatre by the Lake and Storyhouse, this is a perfect setting for a very apt play. A fabulous performance by all involved, Rose Shalloo who played Nell was outstanding, but all the cast were truly amazing to watch.
Credit must be given for the fabulous costumes, of which there were many changes, the set design and music which invitingly whisks you away to the era seamlessly. This fast-paced play enchantingly explores how the artifice of males acting female roles changes from the imaginary world created by playwriters for an all-male cast, to a more realistic world with women playing women and how audiences loved and craved it and why Nell Gwynn became so well known.
The stage is set in 1660 during the reign of King Charles II, and a group of thespians enter the stage singing dancing and playing their musical instruments. They depart and Nell enters the stage, a bold brassy young woman with flaming red hair, selling oranges with her sister. She is heckled by one of the cast members hiding in the shadows of the audience, by referring to her strumpet ways and she confidently deals with him in her witty outright manner.
The story follows Nell being noticed by Mr Hart one of the thespians who thinks she has the makings of an actress and she agrees to be taught under his supervision and takes to it like a duck to water. She is a spirited and independent woman, very different to other women of the time who were thought to be meek and mild, afraid to stand up for themselves and speak their mind. It follows her progress and antics and weaves its way through the journey of her life of joy and sorrow.
The rest of the thespian group are not so happy, feel threatened and their resistance to change is displayed in the most humorously condescending way referring to women’s breasts on many occasions as being a distraction and getting in the way and a preposterous notion. King Charles II was a proactive supporter of the theatre and announced that women should also become actors, it was a pivotal point in the making for this thespian group. Until then women were very much in the background and shadows of men, but Nell was given lead roles and flourished. She became very popular with King Charles II as he certainly took a fancy to her and invited her to his court.
The most memorable prop must be the most ginormous turquoise ‘biggest hat you’ve ever seen’ moment, where Nell enters the stage and proceeds to make fun of her newest French female rival, in front of the King. This titillatingly tongue in cheek play, with bawdy references and smattered with double entendres had the audience howling with laughter and heartily appealed to the wide audience age range. I thought it had a touch of ‘Blackadder’ meets ‘Carry On’ vibe, pure magic.
A thoroughly enjoyable evening of entertainment, full of fun and mischief, singing, dancing and music, what more could you ask for. I fully recommend that you go and see for yourself.
Cast:
Rose Shalloo – Nell Gwynn
Adam Clifford – Lord Arlington & Thomas Killigrew
Celia-Cruwys-Finnigan – Rose Gwynn, Lady Castlemaine & Louise de Keroulle
Elliot Harper - Charles Hart
Burhan Kathawala - Ned Spigget
Jamie Ross – John Dryden & Music Captain
Guy Woolf – King Charles II
Sufia Manya – Nancy, Queen Catherine & Old Ma Gwynn
Stanton Wright – Edward Kynaston
Creative Team:
Tamsin Dowsett – Offstage cover & Assistant Director
Jessica Curtis – Set & Costume Design
Candida Caldicott -Composer & Musical Director
Nell Gwynn will be running at Shakespeare North Playhouse until Sat 4th July.
https://shakespearenorthplayhouse.co.uk/
Reviewer: Jill Mather
On: 17.06.2026
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