«Nell Gwynn (NHB Modern Plays)» by Jessica Swale

London, 1660. King Charles II has exploded onto the scene with a love of all things loud, extravagant and sexy. And at Drury Lane, a young Nell Gwynn is causing stirrings amongst the theatregoers.
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?
Jessica Swale's exhilarating take on the heady world of Restoration theatre premiered at Shakespeare's Globe, London, in September 2015, in a production directed by Christopher Luscombe and starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Nell.


London, 1660. King Charles II has exploded onto the scene with a love of all things loud, extravagant and sexy. And at Drury Lane, a young Nell Gwynn is causing stirrings amongst the theatregoers.
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?
Jessica Swale's exhilarating take on the heady world of Restoration theatre premiered at Shakespeare's Globe, London, in September 2015, before transferring to the West End in February 2016, starring Gemma Arterton.
'superbly funny… a juicy, well-wrought thing of great fun, a wonderfully layered celebration of theatre, but most of all an apt homage to a woman incredibly ahead of her time' – Time Out
'It’s quite a story, and playwright Jessica Swale seizes on it with gusto in this effervescent new comedy which zigzags between the ego-fuelled rehearsal rooms of Drury Lane and the intrigue-soaked corridors of Charles II’s beleaguered court with boisterous panache… The comedy is note-perfect' – Telegraph
'a celebration of the stage for its own sake, and a riotous end-of-term romp.' – WhatsOnStage
'a rollicking good evening’s entertainment… an unending delight' – Evening Standard