Nell Gwynn

by Jessica Swale

15-22nd November 2025, 7.30pm
Fun, Funny and Joyous, with a cast of 20, a band, merry dances and naughty songs

London, 1660. King Charles II has ascended to the English throne and restores theatre and performance following the Puritanical 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 favourite 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.

Jessica Swale’s play about the orange-seller turned actor cannily mixes Carry On gags with an explicitly feminist message. Lots of music, comedy, bawdy laughs, great costumes and a great set.
Cast

Nell Gwynn 

 

Poppy Skinner 

Charles Hart 

Glen Fawcett 

Thomas Killigrew 

Vince Bowers 

Edward Kynaston 

Mark Hobson 

John Dryden 

Jake Scott 

Nancy & Musician 

Samantha Wadsworth 

Ned Spiggott 

James Riley 

Rose Gwynn 

Natalie Slater 

Ma Gwynn 

Lorraine Reynolds 

Charles II 

Chesney Talbot 

Lord Arlington 

Andrew Wilson 

Queen Catherine 

Corinne Bailey 

Lady Castlemaine 

Angela Walsh 

Louise de Kerouille 

Kate Hanss 

William  

Martin Wadsworth 

Musicians Ian Ball & Martin Wadsworth
Ensemble 

 Issy Parks 

 Imogen Turner 

 

Amalie Popplewelll 

 

 
Crew

Director 

Carol Davies

PA 

Pauline Walsh 

Musical Director 

Martin Wadsworth 

Prompt 

Anne Wright 

Sound 

Patrick Warrington 

Lighting 

Bob Critchley  

Props 

Jo Taylor  & Cath Bradbury 

Costume 

Sue Lund & team 

Set Design 

Sally McKee  

Set building & painting  

Sally McKee & team 

Stage Manager 

Sue Borg 

Date

Sat 15th November 2025

Time

7:30 pm - 10:00 pm

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