The Actress

London, 1660. Charles II has reopened the theatres, and for the first time in history, women are allowed to perform on the English stage.

Determined to outmanoeuvre his rival, Thomas Killigrew resolves to cast a real woman in a leading role. But finding the right actress proves no easy task.

Respectable women refuse to risk the scandal, while the local prostitutes are dismissed as unsuitable. Instead, two unlikely candidates emerge: Peggy Hughes, an ageing courtesan searching for a second chance, and Anne Marshall, an educated but penniless Puritan.

As rehearsals progress and opening night approaches, the line between empowerment and exploitation begins to blur.

From the creators of The Giant Killers, seen on two successful national tours and praised in multiple five‑star reviews — comes a compelling new drama about ambition, sacrifice and the forgotten pioneers who changed the world of theatre forever.

Adapted and expanded from its acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe one-act version and inspired by extraordinary true events, The Actress shines a light on the remarkable women who changed British theatre forever.

Before there was Nell Gwyn.

Before Sarah Bernhardt.

Before Judi Dench…

There was the first.