Mrs. Thatcher and The Queen Tricycle to London's West End in Handbagged
Two completely different worlds, one forced weekly meeting. Endless cups of tea. The Tricycle Theatre’s sold-out production of Moira Buffini’s Handbagged is set to transfer to the West End with a limited engagement April 3 through August 2 at the Vaudeville Theatre. Directed by Tricycle's Artistic Director Indhu Rubasingham, opening night is set for April 10.
The monarch—Liz.
Her most powerful subject—Maggie. Two enduring icons born six months apart. One destined to rule, the other elected to lead. But when the stiff upper lip softened and the gloves came off, which one had the upper hand? Handbagged is the new comedy that opens the clasp on the relationship between two giants of the 20th Century. Buffini’s play speculates on that most provocative of questions: What did the world’s most powerful women talk about behind closed doors?
Marion Bailey ("Q," an older Queen Elizabeth II), Stella Gonet ("T," an older Margaret Thatcher), Fenella Woolgar (Mags), Neet Mohan (Nancy Reagan/Neil Kinnock/Kenneth Kaunda/Robert Runcie) and Jeff Rawle (Ronald Reagan/Denis Thatcher/Peter Carrington/Geoffrey Howe) will reprise their original roles. They will be joined by Lucy Robinson (Liz) to complete the company.
Buffini’s plays include Women, Power & Politics, Welcome To Thebes, Dinner, Dying For It and Marianne Dreams. Her screenplays include Tamara Drewe, Jane Eyre and Byzantium. She recently directed her first short film, Father.