Full Cast Confirmed for Nell Gwynn Revival at UK Theatres Summer 2026
The award-winning play Nell Gwynn, written by Jessica Swale, is set for a new production this summer across three UK venues. The revival features a full cast announcement and marks a return to the story of one of Britain’s first actresses, staged by Theatre By the Lake, Shakespeare North Playhouse, and Storyhouse Theatre.
A new production of Nell Gwynn, Jessica Swale’s acclaimed play, will open in summer 2026 as a co-production between Theatre By the Lake, Shakespeare North Playhouse, and Storyhouse Theatre. This fresh staging is directed by Bryony Shanahan, whose recent work includes Bloody Elle and Let the Right One In.
Rose Shalloo will lead the cast as Nell Gwynn, with Guy Woolf taking the role of King Charles II. The ensemble also features Stanton Wright as Edward Kynaston, Jamie Ross as John Dryden, and Sufia Manya as Nancy.
Other cast members include Celia Cruwys-Finnigan as Rose Gwynn, Adam Clifford as Lord Arlington, Elliot Harper as Charles Hart, and Burhan Kathawala as Ned Spigget. Tamsin Dowsett serves as Assistant Director and Offstage Cover.
Set in 1660, the play charts Nell Gwynn’s rise from an orange seller to a celebrated actress amidst the reopening of theatres after years of suppression. It also captures her relationship with King Charles II during a turbulent social and political era.
Theatre By the Lake artistic director Liz Stevenson highlighted that the revival comes a decade after the original production “stormed the national stage”. She noted the new staging will blend Restoration period aesthetics with live music and “powerhouse performances”.
The creative team behind the production features Jess Curtis as set and costume designer, Candida Caldicott as composer and musical director, with Mark Distin Webster handling lighting and Pete Malkin sound design. Movement direction is by Sundeep Saini, alongside costume supervision by Bronya Arciszewska and casting by Liv Barr.
Performances will begin at Shakespeare North Playhouse from 12 June to 4 July 2026, followed by runs at Theatre By the Lake from 9 July to 1 August, and Storyhouse Theatre from 21 August to 6 September.
