Gemma Arterton will be joined in the West End transfer of Shakespeare’s Globe’s production of Nell Gwynn by many of the performers who appeared in the critically acclaimed drama at the London theatre last summer.
Arterton, who is a newcomer to the cast, taking over from Gugu Mbatha-Raw in the title role, will star alongside Olivier Award winner Sarah Woodward, Greg Haiste, David Rintoul, Anneika Rose, David Sturzaker, Jay Taylor, Sasha Waddell and George Jennings, all of whom helped bring Jessica Swale’s play to life at the Bankside venue in 2015.
But the Quantum Of Solace actress won’t be the only Nell Gwynn debutant, with Paige Carter, Michele Dotrice, Michael Garner, Peter McGovern and Nicholas Shaw taking on their characters in Christopher Luscombe’s production for the first time.
McGovern and Shaw join the tale of Charles II’s mistress following performances in other regal tales. Shaw appeared in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s critically acclaimed productions of Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies, while McGovern returns to the Apollo Theatre following his 2012 performance in Luscombe’s production of The Madness Of King George III.
Garner also reunites with director Luscombe following his appearance in the Globe’s The Merry Wives Of Windsor in 2010, while Carter and Dotrice return to the London stage following their performances in the National Theatre’s Three Days In The Country and the David Suchet-led The Importance Of Being Earnest respectively. Matthew Durkan and Ellie Leah complete the cast.
First seen at the Globe in September 2015, Nell Gwynn charts the story of the cheeky and charming title character, one of the first and most acclaimed women to appear on the London stage. Set in 1660 as Charles II explodes onto the scene with a love of all things loud, French and sexy, the production follows the young Nell as she goes from selling oranges for sixpence to becoming the monarch’s long-time mistress.
Nell Gwynn will begin its run at London’s Apollo Theatre on 4 February following the current run of Mischief Theatre’s hit comedy Peter Pan Goes Wrong. You can book tickets for the show, which is booking until 30 April, through us.