Nell Gwynn

Southend Drama Society is excited to announce its next production, Nell Gwynn by Jessica Swale, a hilarious and educational modern classic. The Restoration of the Monarchy was aolution against the austere rulings of Oliver Cromwell’s Commonwealth. When King Charles II returned from exile in 1660, his philosophy was fun, fun, fun. The King reportedly had a wife and 17 mistresses. Perhaps the most famous of these was Nell Gwynn who social climbed from orange seller to the King’s favourite, by way of his sponsorship of theatre. For the first time, female “actor-esses” were gracing the stage, to the rapturous delight of audiences. Jessica Swale’s boisterous and sometimes bawdy script follows the progress of one London Playhouse as it struggles to come to terms with a new enlightened world. The play explores the relationship between the King, his wife and his mistresses and also touches upon the delicate political balancing act that Charles practiced to keep his throne safe at home and abroad. Southend Drama Society has never put forward a play that has generated such excitement from its members. We love it and are sure you will too!