Playhouse Creatures
Where do older actors go when the clapping stops?
“Play the lustful woman tied to the tree”
Direction to Nell Gwyn
The Orange Tree Theatre Richmond has consistently staged intriguing, sometimes historical plays in recent years and is thriving under the current Artistic Director Tom Littler. Last month, we saw the excellent Churchill in Moscow, and now Playhouse Creatures, set in the Swinging Sixties of 1660. The date is significant, as Charles II had just returned from France after his self-imposed exile following the execution of his father, Charles I. He had a reputation as a fun-loving king, a welcome change for the nation after the strict Puritan rule of Parliament.
In July, Charles II reopened the theatres and granted performance licenses to two of his friends. After years without theatre, recruiting skilled male actors proved difficult. Up until then, women had been banned from acting on stage, relegated to less respectable forms of performance. This play follows five women who join a theatre troupe during this transitional period.
Without intending to insult any of the actors, the script by April De Angelis requires a range of ages: Nell Gwyn (Zoe Brough) a teenager trying to break into theatre from selling oranges; Mrs. Betterton (Anna Chancellor) the matriarch; Mrs. Marshall (Katherine Kingsley) an established actress; Mrs. Farley (Nicole Sawyerr), a young performer striving to keep her place in the cast; and Doll Common (Doña Croll), a longtime dresser.
The two-hour play, with an interval, spans several years. It begins with the actors struggling to make ends meet, often through less respectable means, before earning recognition as talented performers. Over time, they progress from near-begging to securing a share in the company. However, acting was a fickle profession even then. Mrs. Betterton, once the most senior actress, becomes too old for the stage and is cast aside. Meanwhile, at sixteen, Nell Gwyn becomes one of Charles II’s many mistresses.
The Orange Tree is an intimate theatre in the round, bringing audiences close to the action. Directed by Michael Oakley, the production relies on minimal but effective props. The actors deliver strong performances, with Anna Chancellor being a standout. However, the frequent shouting was felt unnecessary. Additionally, some scenes appear designed purely to shock the audience – such as a swordfight in a park with an unlikely outcome after the interval. Humour comes from the actor’s attempting death by asp in Cleopatra.
As a man, I found it difficult to fully empathize with the characters, though others may connect with them more deeply. First performed in 1993, the play has been revived regularly over the years and will likely continue to be a staple in theatre repertoires.
Malcolm Beckett has been reviewing theatre since 2017
Production Notes
Playhouse Creatures
Written by April De Angelis
Directed by Michael Oakley
Cast
Starring:
Zoe Brough
Katherine Kingsley
Anna Chancellor
Doña Croll
Nicole Sawyerr
Creatives
Director: Michael Oakley
Designer: Fontini Dimou
Lighting Designer: Elliot Griggs
Movement Director: Mandy Demetriou
Composer and Sound Designer: Max Pappenheim
Information
Running Time: Two hours including an inrterval
Booking to 12th April 2025
Theatre:
Orange Tree Theatre
Rail/Tube: Richmond
Reviewed by Malcolm Beckett
at the Orange Tree
on 21st March 2025