Nicholas Wright’s compelling new play, The Last Of The Duchess, explores the final stages of the life of Wallis Simpson.

In an upstairs bedroom in a mansion near Versailles, Simpson, Duchess of Windsor lies near the end of her life. But is the eccentric and energetic French attorney Maitre Suzanne Blum determined to protect the Duchess, or perhaps hide unscrupulous manipulation of her money and fame.

The Last Of The Duchess is based on Caroline Blackwood’s biographical portrait of Simpson.

Wright’s previous plays include the acclaimed National Theatre adaptation of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials, Mrs Klein, The Reporter and Vincent In Brixton, which won the Olivier Award for Best New Play in 2003. On the latter two he worked with director Richard Eyre, who directs The Last Of The Duchess. Eyre was previously the Director of the National Theatre.
 
The Last Of The Duchess is staged at the Hampstead theatre as a world premiere.

For more about The Last Of The Duchess at the Hampstead theatre read the First Night Feature.