IF YOU’VE ever wondered what life was like in the theatre in the 17th century, get yourself tickets for Playhouse Creatures, the next play to be performed by the Lion and Unicorn Players.
The bawdy, funny and poignant play will, in the words of the director Laura Sheppard, “be a fascinating peek behind the curtain of Restoration theatre”.
The play, by April de Angelis, outlines the struggle these first actresses had to be recognised. At this time, in the 1660s, the stage was more about celebrity and less about the plays and the skills of acting.
Dogged by admirers and fans, among them royality, many actresses were in the precarious position of being the playthings and pawns of rich and powerful men – none more famous than Nell Gwyn, who was to become a mistress of Charles II.
It was the king who permitted women to act.
Playhouse Creatures will be performed at Petersfield’s Festival Hall on November 2, 3 and 4 at 7.30pm with a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm.
Tickets are available online at www.lionandunicornplayers.co.uk or from One Tree Books, Lavant Street, Petersfield. Call 01730 261199.