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.
The Audience guide sections
