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Described by Steph Kirkland
From Winston Churchill to Margaret Thatcher, through Tony Blair and right up to David Cameron, the Queen has held a weekly meeting, or “audience,” with each of her twelve prime ministers. Peter Morgan’s imaginary glimpses into these tête-à-têtes provide a droll and fascinating portrayal of a lioness of history—one who, over the span of six decades, transforms from an uncertain young monarch into the revered figurehead of today.
Written by Peter Morgan
Directed by Sarah Rodgers
The action takes place in the Queen’s Private Audience Room in Buckingham Palace over a period of 60 years.
CHARACTERS
Queen Elizabeth II is the current Queen of the United Kingdom, Elizabeth has served as the British Sovereign since 1952, following the reign of her father, King George VI.
Young Elizabeth, is 11 years old, as remembered by the adult Queen.
Equerry is the Queen’s loyal servant, a lieutenant-commander in the Royal Navy.
Bobo MacDonald is the Scottish nanny who cared for Elizabeth during her childhood years.
John Major is a Conservative Prime Minister, who served from 1990 to 1997.
Winston Churchill is the lionized Conservative Prime Minister who led Britain during World War II and was later the first Prime Minister during the reign of Elizabeth II.
Harold Wilson is a Labour Prime Minister, who held office from 1964 to 1970 and again from 1974 to 1976.
Gordon Brown is a Labour Prime Minister, who held office from 2007 to 2010.
Anthony Eden is a Conservative Prime Minister, who held office from 1955 and 1957.
Tony Blair is a Labour Prime Minister, who held office from 1997 to 2007.
Margaret Thatcher is a Conservative Prime Minister, serving from 1979 until 1990. Thatcher was the UK’s first female Prime Minister and its longest-serving Prime Minister of the twentieth century.
David Cameron is a Conservative Prime Minister, who held office from 2010 to 2016.
Plus a Bishop, a Detective, Footmen and the Queen’s Corgis.
REVIEWS
“The Audience’s framework is clever: every week since her coronation, Queen Elizabeth II has met with the prime minister on Tuesday evenings. It is a courtesy on the part of the PM, we’re told, not an obligation. The play jumps backward and forward in time, and though we meet just eight of the 13 PMs (so far) of the Queen’s reign, these vignettes offer a sweeping glimpse of a changing Britain, as well as a fascinating portrait of the woman behind the crown.
Anna Galvin is fantastic as Her Royal Majesty. It’s a huge task to embody a character of this stature and significance, but Galvin lives up to the challenge. The extent to which she humanizes Elizabeth II is admirable, with ample help from Morgan’s, which offers some nice, believable moments of resolve, courage, humility, hubris, weakness, and humour. But the physicality of her performance is also inspiring. Galvin makes subtle changes to her voice, posture, and body, perfectly capturing the Queen’s journey from wide-eyed, determined, freshly crowned young woman to mature, matter-of-fact matriarch.” –The Georgia Straight
“The Audience is an unabashed homage to Elizabeth II. Directed by Sarah Rodgers, The Audience finds little fault with the little girl known as Bunty who became the queen at the tender age of twenty-six and has doggedly stood her ground.” –Jo Ledingham
SUPPORT MATERIALS
THE AUDIENCE – Plot Synopsis (Word doc)
A QUEEN FOR ALL SEASONS (Word doc)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSEfFRaW1s8
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