Nell Gwynn is an entertaining homage to one of Britain’s first female actresses and mistress to King Charles II. The story follows Nell from orange hawker and prostitute to leading actress and favorite mistress to the King. Our story begins with Nell arguing with a heckler during the beginning of a performance at Drury lane Theatre which attracts the attention of Charles Hart, a famous actor in the King’s Company.  Because Nell has nothing to lose, she agrees to be taught acting by Hart. After training with Hart, Nell auditions and convinces Thomas Killigrew to become a member of the King’s Company. Nell, though nervous and illiterate, performs in her first play and is an instant hit. Nell makes a connection with the King during a performance but turns down his offer for dinner because of his refusal to see her as more than a common prostitute. At rehearsal the following week, Nell refuses the King’s offer of becoming his mistress because she of her relationships at the King’s company, specifically with Hart. Jealous and angry with the King for decamping to be with Moll Davies, an actress in the Duke’s Company, Nell bakes laxatives into a pie for her. The following day, Arlington, the king’s right hand man, threatens Nell to stay away from the King due to public relations. However, Nell disregards Arlington’s threat and finally accepts the King’s offer of becoming his mistress. A few years later, Nell agrees to play Lady Godiva because of her jealousy for the King’s new French guest, Louise. Because of Nell’s song attacking Louise and her constant tardiness, Killigrew fires Nell from the company and Rose is attacked by Arlington. Nell decides to leave the King to take care of her sister, until the King proclaims his love for Nell and Nell is convinced into staying with the King. Years later, Nell returns to the King’s company after the King’s death and delivers her final epilogue. 

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Our production of Nell Gwynn will provide a fun and joyous story aimed at our contemporary audiences. Our production will explore creating less of a separation between audience member and actor, inviting the audience to connect with each character. We will explore the concept of layers and layering and how these layers manifest in each scene, character and the whole story. In addition to layering, our production also looks to explore the celebrity and fame of Nell Gwynn and the relationship she has with the audience at our theatre and the audiences of her time. In relation to our current time, our production hopes to break through the pandemic with a story about love, joy and humor just as theatre reemerged after the restoration period in England.   

As Jessica Swale puts it, “The songs in this script form an essential and joyous part of Nell Gwynn and as Dr. Will puts it, “Silence is purposeful.” These quotes embody the role of sound in our production. We constantly subject our audience to the sonic personality of each location our play takes place in, enforcing their contemporary idea of always hearing music in their everyday lives.  St. James Palace follows the sonic melodies of baroque composer Henry Purcell while Drury Lane mimics the qualities of English folk music of the period. Bridging the gap between these distinct sonic personalities through layering of similar instruments, our transition music propels us between hours, days and years. Thus proving to be the common thread between moments, connecting us from Nell’s first acting lesson to her final epilogue. Through layering the modern prosody of our actors, our historically accurate music and the music of the Hansen theatre our sound score will amplify the connection between audience member and performer in our show and Nell’s shows. Our sound score equips us with the tools to convey the joy and fun we seek in our production.