Royal life may look effortless from the outside, but behind every perfectly judged outfit, carefully chosen hat, and impeccably timed appearance is a small army of people making sure everything is just so. By Royal Appointment invites us behind that closely guarded curtain, into the dressing room and private world of one of the most recognisable and iconic women who ever lived – Queen Elizabeth II.
Daisy Goodwin’s new play offers an imagined glimpse into the relationship between the sovereign and the people responsible for creating her public image. Goodwin, creator of ITV’s Victoria, focuses not on royal scandals or constitutional drama, but on something rather more unexpected: her clothes. In the world of the most photographed person on the planet, a coat can make a statement, a hat can deliver a message and the right shade of lipstick can apparently speak volumes.
Jane Asher takes on the role of The Queen, bringing considerable experience and presence to a character who has spent a lifetime mastering the art of saying very little while communicating an enormous amount. There is something particularly special about watching Asher conjure up the woman behind the familiar public persona. She has a way of holding herself on stage which perfectly evokes the monarch without slipping into a Spitting Image style caricature or impersonation. It’s a masterful performance. Her vocal dexterity is especially impressive – she manages to age the Queen through the decades with vocal intonation alone.
Laura Main is The Dresser, a working-class northern woman whose eye for style and understanding of the Queen’s personality affords her an increasingly important place within the royal household. Main brings grit and a determined edge to a character whose relationship with the Queen forms the emotional heart of the play.
David Robb plays The Designer, another member of the team responsible for maintaining the royal image. Robb adds experience and understated humour to this backstage world. Matthew Cottle is The Milliner bringing plenty of theatrical flair. The evening is punctuated by appearances from Laura Matthews’ curator – explaining and narrating the period of history using pop chart references and world events for context.
Anthony Banks directs, with Jonathan Fensom designing the production, Richard Howell on lighting, Sarah Weltman providing sound and Ben and Max Ringham composing the music. It is a suitably accomplished creative team for a play where presentation is very much part of the story.
What I particularly enjoy about By Royal Appointment is its gentle approach. This is not a salacious peek behind the Palace gates, but an affectionate exploration of the people working just out of sight.
The overarching result is extremely watchable theatre – a chance to see a different, imagined, side of royal life and discover that even behind the most polished public image there are people, personalities and relationships pulling the strings. You don’t need to be a monarchist to enjoy this warm, witty and very human drama – although you may leave with a newfound appreciation for the power of a well-chosen hat. Grab yourself some tickets – Her Majesty demands an audience with you this week, right here at the Theatre Royal Nottingham!
