AllWays Traveller Features
Nell Gwynn at the Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre, Chester
(Images : Pamela Raith)
An evening of ribald revelry
Nell Gwynn runs at the Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre, Chester until 6 September 2026.
Written by Jessica Swale, it is as much an homage to the Restoration comedies of the 17th and early 18th Centuries as it is of the woman who was one of the first actresses to achieve fame and a celebrity status through this theatrical genre.
Nell Gwynn is the final major production in another successful open air season by Storyhouse, Chester's community arts and cultural organisation.
Restoration comedy
Restoration comedy emerged with the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 and the crowning of Charles II of England.
Lewd and risqué, it was a counteraction to strict Puritan morality with plots that lampooned the lives and scandalous affairs of aristocratic life with sexual humour and double entendres.
Eleanor Gwynn, 'Nell', who was the first English stage actress of the Restoration period who had a dramatic real life as a longtime mistress of King Charles II.
This production of Nell Gwynn encapsulates the essence of Restoration comedy in an evening of ribald entertainment.
A sassy strumpet from Cheapside
Although an ensemble piece, one is going to pay particular attention to the actress playing 'our Nell' and, in this respect, Rose Shalloo is excellent.
She captures the woman as a sassy, 'common as muck' strumpet from Cheapside who is devoid of airs and graces but with bucket loads of nous and no little charm.
We meet her in the first scene as the feisty orange seller who can give as good as she gets when it comes to trading insults.
Rose then takes her character and us on Nell's journey to the fame, fortune and notoriety.
And then there is the philandering popinjay Charles II, that Guy Woolf portrays so well.
When Charles and Nell first meet, their ensuing sexual relationship is very much a business arrangement, with Nell driving the hard bargain.
But a genuine warmth and affection between two people who are poles apart emerges.
Rose and Guy are supported by a strong cast of actors cum musicians and dancers playing the range of supporting characters.
It all makes this Nell Gwynn bawdy, funny and just occasionally quite poignant.
Nell Gwynn is a Storyhouse, Shakespeare North Playhouse and Theatre by the Lake production.
https://www.storyhouse.com/whats-on/nell-gwynn-park/
Storyhouse
Storyhouse is a community arts and cultural centre and creative social space in Chester, England.
The restored and revitalised Odeon building houses an 800-seat auditorium, a 150-seat studio theatre, restaurant and two bars along with a 100-seat boutique, independent cinema.
Storyhouse runs a series of festivals as well as the Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre and Moonlight Flicks.
During the autumn and spring, Storyhouse stages productions from UK and international touring companies that embrace dance, opera, drama, comedy and music.
In the summer and at Christmas-time, the theatre transforms into a 500 seat thrust stage, to present Storyhouse home produced shows.
The Storyhouse independent cinema, shows new independent and international releases along with blockbusters, cult classics, restorations, family favourites and documentaries.
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