Her Naked Skin

Her Naked Skin at National Theatre, Olivier

Why see Her Naked Skin?

"An outstanding new play...bursting with high-definition performances."
Daily Telegraph

"Superb tale of lesbian love across the class divide as suffragettes languish in Holloway."
Evening Standard

London 1913. Militancy in the Suffragette Movement is at its height. Thousands of women of all classes serve time in Holloway Prison in their fight to gain the vote. Amongst them is Lady Celia Cain who feels trapped by both the policies of the day and the shackles of a frustrating marriage. Inside, she meets a young seamstress, Eve Douglas, and her life spirals into an erotic but dangerous chaos.

Rebecca Lenkiewicz's new play is set at a crucial moment when, with emancipation almost in sight, women refuse to let the establishment stand in...

Lesley Manville returns to the National to play Lady Celia Cain in Her Naked Skin, she was last seen at the National in The Alchemist, Pillars of the Community and His Dark Materials;  her recent West End credits include All About My Mother at the Old Vic, The Mother at the Royal Court and Some Girls at the Gielgud.

Men don't like to see a convoy of women.
It unsexes us.

Love is just fear I suppose. Masquerading as a fever.
Then you explore each other and suddenly you have licence to become totally pedestrian. And ultimately abusive.

Cast

Zoe Aldrich as Emily Wilding Davison & Ensemble
Julien Ball as John Seely/ Hunt
David Beames as Herbert Asquith & Ensemble
Ken Bones as Doctor Klein/ Augustine Birrel
Elicia Daly as Flower Lady & Ensemble
Joe Dunlop as Ensemble
Susan Engel as Florence Boorman
Stephanie Jacob as Mrs Briggs
Ruth Keeling as Wardress & Ensemble
Dermot Kerrigan as Doctor Vale & Ensemble
Barbara Kirby as Mrs Major & Ensemble
Anna Lowe as Felicity & Ensemble
Nick Malinowski as Doctor Parker & Ensemble
Lesley Manville as Celia Cain
Simon Markey as Edward Grey & Ensemble
Pamela Merrick as Mrs Schliefke
Gerard Monaco as Charlie Power
Edward Newborn as Guard & Ensemble
Harriette Quarrie as Miss Brint & Ensemble
Adrian Rawlins as William Cain
Jemima Rooper as Eve Douglas
Stephanie Thomas as Nurse & Ensemble
Tony Turner as Brown/ Potter
Robert Willox as Keir Hardie/ Cecil
Deborah Winckles as Mrs Collins & Ensemble

Creative

Directed by Howard Davies
Design by Rob Howell
Lighting Design by Neil Austin
Projection Design by Jon Driscoll
Music by Harvey Brough
Sound Design by Paul Groothuis

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