Historical Spotlight: Nell Gwynn

Wed 27 May, 2026

Let us take you back to 1660: the monarchy had just been restored and Charles II ordered parliament to lift the ban on theatres, kickstarting a new era of creativity. And stealing the spotlight is the vivacious Nell Gwynn as women were finally given the opportunity to dominate the stage..

Before this point, all of the roles were played by men, even the female ones. (A decision which was regularly mocked on Upstart Crow, with the ongoing joke “but where would they put the coconuts?”) From June 12th to July 4th, the Cockpit Theatre will be home to the Nell, exploring this cultural reset that made history.

Penned by Jessica Swale, Nell Gwynn is a gloriously funny, feminist comedy (with a female-led ensemble) that asks: why play by the rules when you can write your own? Nell was previously played by Gemma Artheron, in a production that the Guardian described as “a love-letter to theatre itself and the cheerful chaos involved in putting on a play.” It is such a wonderful script, detailing the life of a star of the cockpit stage, causing chaos in a male dominated world… What better place to see this unfold than in an authentic Elizabethan Cockpit theatre? Breaking free from repression has consistently given us some of the world’s greatest art and artists, with Nell being a prime example. She was loud, hilarious and head strong; and most importantly: she refused to behave. She was unapologetically adored for it.

Following the death of Oliver Cromwell, the Commonwealth was disbanded and the monarchy was restored, bringing with it a new age for Great Britain. Gone were the puritan reforms and military rule. Suddenly the theatre was at the centre of culture once more, bringing with it new actors and playwrights! The new addition of female actors was a spectacle which drew people out of their homes and into their local theatres. One of these stars was Nell Gwynn, standing out because she was the very embodiment of the monumental shift happening. She grew up in poverty, and though her exact birthplace is lost to time, it is believed that she hailed from around Covent Garden. She worked in theatres, selling oranges with an unmatched wit and charm, entertaining the crowd as she went; destined to be in the spotlight herself.

We are fortunate enough to have a lot of details about life in the 17th century, thanks in part to the detailed diaries of Samuel Pepys. In one of these diary entries, Pepys wrote about how taken he was with Nell, describing her as “pretty, witty Nell”. She was well known at the time as being the King’s Mistress, and whilst she was so much more than that, it would be remiss of us if we didn’t look into her relationship with Charles II. Why is Nell remembered, when so many other King’s mistresses are forgotten? She was adored by the public, which was virtually unheard of for a King’s mistress, surpassing her rivals Lady Castlemaine, Louise de Keroualle and many others! What made her stand out was that she had little interest in politics: instead she was charming, relying on humour and wit to please the crowds. This made her incredibly admired and relatable. One time, when the public were gathering around her coach, believing her to be the Duchess of Portsmouth, she shouted “pray good people be civil, I am the Protestant whore.” These days, PR teams work around the clock and go to great lengths to make a public figure seem as relatable and as down to earth as Nell, but she just did it effortlessly.

Nell became Charles II’s mistress in 1669, putting a stop to her acting career. Her last performance was 1670s ‘The Conquest of Granada by the Spaniards’, a heroic tragedy by John Dryden. Nell and Dryden had worked together before, with him specifically writing roles to best suit her talents. These larger than life, charming and entertaining characters propelled her to stardom: and she didn’t just play the roles, she became them, making the theatre an exciting place to be. Her wit turned the stage into something that it should always be: an unmissable event.

Because the events occurred in the 17th century, there are certain stories that we are uncertain as to whether they are fact or fiction. When Nell gave Charles II a son, she was determined that he should make the boy a Duke. So much so, that she held the child out the window of Lauderdale House, threatening “make him a Duke, or I’ll drop him!” Charles hastily replied “God save the Earl of Burford!” It’s not certain that this happened, and the comical retort from the King suggests that it didn’t, but that did not prevent the rumour from spreading and being told in taverns up and down the country. Her son was indeed granted the title of the Earl of Burford, so perhaps it’s true after all…

Nell’s story works because despite the events being so specific and reliant on historical context and events, the basic story is filled with modern parallels. She was a woman judged for her ambition and sexuality; and she was someone who shone despite the stubbornness of society and its dislike for class mobility. She did not simply fit in with the upper classes: she remembered her roots and absolutely dominated their society. There’s a reason why we still remember her today: It is because Nell Gwynn was generationally spectacular.

One of the aims of Shakespeare North is to make the arts accessible to all: to get people into the theatre who have never been to a theatre before, removing the elitism so often associated with it, so Nell is a role model. She is the embodiment of what we strive to accomplish. Why play by the rules when you can write your own?

We really hope you’ll join us for a performance of Nell Gwynn. It is guaranteed to be an uproarishly hilarious night.

Written by: Mark Lee