Mary Stuart

Acting royalty meets historical dynasty

Juliet Stevenson and Lia Williams unite on stage this December, alternating between two roles before each performance with the flip of a coin! Taking full advantage of the recent craze for all things Tudor, Friedrich Schiller's play at the Almeida follows the strained relationship between Elizabeth I and her cousin/rival, Mary Queen of Scots. Directed by the formidable Robert Icke, these two leading ladies of both stage and screen are acting royalty in their own right, and this battle of wits between the two wily monarchs is guaranteed to keep history buffs on the edge of their seats.

Two tribes go to war

First performed in Weimar Germany in 1800, Schiller's historical thriller incorporates several historical events into the narrative, with a fair amount of artistic license by the playwright. Held prisoner by her cousin because of her claim to the English throne, Mary tries desperately to gain a reprieve from execution for the supposed murder of her husband; meanwhile, Elizabeth is torn by her choice whether or not to free Mary out of familial love, or execute her to secure her place as Queen. However, events quickly spiral for the two women as a plot to free Mary and place her on the throne is exposed, and an ill-fated meeting between the women leads to explosive consequences for them both - and the future of the country.