NEWS RELEASE
Release date: Thursday 28th October 2021
NELL GWYNN RETURNS TO THE STAGE THIS CHRISTMAS
AT THE GREEN ROOM THEATRE, WILMSLOW
‘They’ve disgraced our trade. Ruined our art. They’ve put a woman on the stage.’
NELL GWYNN by Jessica Swale is a superbly funny and exhilarating celebration of Restoration theatre, bursting with song and dance; it runs at The Green Room Theatre, Wilmslow from Friday 3rd to Saturday 11th December 2021.
A comic yet serious tale of a woman who was ahead of her time, Nell Gwynn promises to be a great night out this Christmas: tickets now on sale at the theatre’s website: www.greenroomwilmslow.org.uk
The play, directed by Mike Rogerson and Celia Bonner charts the rise of Nell Gwynn, a bright, charming and yet unlikely heroine from 1660’s London. We follow Nell from her roots in Coal Yard Alley to selling oranges for sixpence at Drury Lane and on to her rise to stardom as Britain’s most celebrated actress, who captured the heart of a King and changed history.
Co-Director Celia Bonner commented: ‘’Nell Gwynn is our first production of a full play in over 18 months. The cast includes both Green Room regulars and newcomers, with local actors Lorna Kong, playing the title role of Nell and Steve Berrington, last seen here as Al in ‘April in Paris’, playing King Charles II. It’s been a wonderful experience to be back in a rehearsal room and working with the company to bring this exciting play to the stage and we are all looking forward to our opening night.”
The play has echoes of ‘Shakespeare in Love’ with a woman turned actor in a male-dominated world and a playwright – in place of Shakespeare we have John Dryden – just as much struggling to get his ideas down from ‘quill to parchment’ and reflecting with great comic affect on the problems and happy chaos involved in putting on a play.
Co-Director Mike Rogerson added: “The staging of this production in our unique studio theatre space has been greatly enhanced by our newly acquired stage rostra, generously funded by The Evans Trust. We have used the rostra to excellent effect to create a thrust stage which places the audience on three sides of the theatre, which will give them an unrivalled experience of this wonderful play.”
Support your local theatre; and do take the opportunity to see Nell Gwynn at The Green Room Theatre, Wilmslow:
- To book tickets, see printed material or click: Nell Gwynn tickets
- Telephone the box office Ticket-Line: 01625 540933.
- Each performance starts at 7:45pm.
- Tickets cost £8 for members, £10 full price.
- The Green Room Saturday Box Office dates are:
30 October, 6, 13, 20 and 27 November: 11am to 12 noon - The Theatre bar will be open each evening. Drinks will be served in plastic glasswear that may be taken into the auditorium.
- The Green Room confirm that people are welcome to wear a face covering throughout the play or when moving around the building
- The theatre is part of the ‘See It Safely’ scheme which means that it is compliant with the latest government guidelines.
To find out more about The Green Room Theatre, Wilmslow and how you can get involved please email mail@greenroomwilmslow.org.uk
PHOTO: Lorna Kong in the title role of Nell Gwynn
ENDS
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Celia Bonner and Mike Rogerson are available for interview.
Press contact at the The Green Room Theatre, Wilmslow:
Mark Jephcott, PR & Marketing
email: mail@greenroomwilmslow.org.uk
Tel: 01625 540933
