Overview
Synopsis
The Audience takes place between 1952 and the present day. It focuses on Queen Elizabeth II’s private weekly meetings between her and each of her Prime Minister’s throughout her reign. These meetings have never been recorded and their content is unknown. In this innovative, modern play, Peter Morgan breaks through the silence and imagines a series of conversations held behind closed doors. Weaving through time, the Queen meets with each of her Prime Ministers (bar three: Harold Macmillan, Sir Alec Douglas Home, and Edward Heath) and her relationship with each of them is revealed. While she remains constant, the politicians come and go, revealing intimate and, occasionally, astounding details. The older Queen uses her time also to converse with her younger self, revealing her childhood dislike of the palace and her fears for the future. With frequently changing playing ages and near-constant stage time, the role of Queen Elizabeth II is a tour de force for any actress.
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Context
The Audience premiered in the Gielgud Theatre in London’s West End on 15 February 2013. Written by British playwright, Peter Morgan, and directed by Stephen Daldry, the premiere starred Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II and received substantial critical acclaim. As part of its run in London, the play was broadcast live at cinemas across the UK and North America as part of National Theatre Live. It broke records for the number of people watching live, with nearly 80,000 in the UK and 30,000
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Act One
Out of the dark, the Equerry appears to introduce the concept of the Queen’s private audiences with her Prime Ministers. These happen every Tuesday at 6:30pm. He describes the room in which they take place and, as he exits, the room itself is revealed. The Queen is holding one of her audiences with John Major, her ninth Prime Minister. He is fretting about the turbulent political atmosphere under his direction. He never wanted the notoriety and pressure that comes with the job
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Character Portrayals
See StageAgent members who have performed roles in The Audience.
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Key Terms
A form of government often portrayed in historical plays to explore lineage, power, betrayal, and class structures.
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Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher