What even is ‘Nell Gwynn ’?

WHAT EVEN IS 'NELL GWYNN'? Polly Symes

Visiting Big School just a few weeks before the curtain rises on this year’s school play, the tension and excitement in the air is tangible.

A full cast sits around Mr Russell, who is in the middle of giving a speech on the importance of learning lines when I walk into the theatre. One cast member (he who shall not be named) arrives 15 minutes late, and a slightly exasperated Mr Russell says “Great, you ’ ve just missed everything important” . A chuckle resounds around the space.

I spent an hour watching line runs, interviewing the four principle cast members (including Amelia Baldock and Leticia Nare, both pictured above), and soaking in the unmistakable energy of the drama department. Given the the of explaining the play in a sentence, Herbie Sleep (playing Charles II) said that “Nel Gwyn creates anarchy in Britain ” . From what I have garnered online, Nell, or Eleanor, was a mistress of Charles II and an actress herself, renowned for her recklessness and her generosity. Discussing the role, Leticia Nare said “Playing someone that’ s nothing like you is so much fun ” and that when rehearsing the more sexual lines she sometimes thinks “Oh my god, my mum and dad are going to be watching this!”

Interestingly, and in a feat unknown to the college in recent years, each of the two main parts will be played by two different actors. Ben Young (also playing Charles II) said that “We ’ re learning from each other ” and as a result I think some of us are going to watch the play twice! Nell Gwynn will be running from 7th to 10th December, and Amelia Baldock told me that “It’ s just a case of putting everything together now... ” See you all in the audience!