Pretty, Witty Nell: Starring Jessica Latham – A one-woman tragicomedy about Nell Gwynne
October 9 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
- £10.00 – £13.00 at Ropetackle Arts Centre
Written entirely in rhyming iambic pentameter, this award-nominated and critically-acclaimed one-woman tragicomic history tells the true story of Nell Gwynne, the famous actress/prostitute and mistress of the wild British Monarch, King Charles II. Written and directed by the multi award-winning verse playwright, Ryan J-W Smith and produced by Rogue Shakespeare®.
“Smith… the most prolific – and crucially, experienced – verse-drama writer in the UK.”
Fringe Review
“The Bard Mark Two – it’s staggering!”
BBC
There will be an after-show talk by the star of the show, Jessica Latham, (along with a possible zoom talk with the author) explaining the origin of the play and the back-story to its production.
ROGUE SHAKESPEARE®
Rogue Shakespeare® is a critically-acclaimed international theatre company that has been producing the award-winning verse plays of Ryan J-W Smith since 2001.
Ryan J-W Smith, MA Law (Dist), is a multi-award winning verse playwright and critically-acclaimed poet. To date he has written 7 verse plays, 1 verse screenplay, and close to 2,700 Shakespearean sonnets. Smith’s first 500 sonnets were published to universal acclaim in 2012 in his book ‘500 Shakespearean Sonnets’; his book of 3 plays ‘Rogue Shakespeare: 3 Plays’ was published in 2023, and his book of nearly 2,700 sonnets ‘Rogue Shakespeare’s Bible’ is due for publication in Autumn, 2024.
With Rogue Shakespeare®, Smith’s accolades include: two-time Hollywood Fringe International Award Winner; two-time Encore Producers’ Award Winner; Hollywood Fringe Comedy Award Nomination; Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award Nomination; Gandhi Foundation Award Recipient; three-time Arts Council England Award Recipient, two-time ‘Pick of the Fringe’ (Edinburgh), The Observer (UK Newspaper) Fringe Promoter of the Year, and countless professional 4 and 5-star reviews. www.rogueshakespeare.com
PRETTY, WITTY NELL®
An original one-woman tragicomic history, written entirely in rhyming iambic verse, Pretty, Witty Nell® tells the true story of Nell Gwynne, the famous actress/prostitute, and mistress of the wild British monarch, King Charles II.
Smith’s 7th verse play, Pretty, Witty Nell® was premiered at the Hollywood Fringe Festival in 2019, where it received nothing but glowing reviews from critics and audience members alike; and was nominated for the coveted Hollywood Fringe International Award, which Smith/Rogue Shakespeare® have won twice previously in 2015 & 2016.
The show subsequently toured professionally, gathering glowing reviews, to theatres in London, Eastbourne, Brighton and New York. Taking over the role from Melanie Johnson (2019) and Hannah Attfield (2023-24) the show now stars American actress, Jessica Latham.
“An outstanding gem” – Fringe Review
Nominated – Hollywood Fringe International Award 2019
★★★★★ “Smith‘s writing is exquisite… Simply put this play is a work of genius. Genius writing, genius direction and genius acting.” – Pink Prince Theatre
★★★★ “This is impressive – there is a lot of pleasure to be had in this kind of pastiche” – London Pub Theatres Magazine
★★★★ “a spellbinding, accomplished performance” – The Reviews Hub
★★★★ “an extremely strong performance” – Broadway Baby
★★★★ “Reenacted intricately and with flair By this gentle wench, who knows the affair” – First Night Magazine
“A standout solo show – perfect!” – Broadway World
“Engrossing from start to finish… worthy of tremendous praise… I can only marvel at Smith’s craft” – Mark Aspen Reviews
“It’s modern, enjoyable Shakespeare; with comedy and tragedy – the lot!” – The Family Stage
“Pretty Witty Nell is a truly memorable production, a triumph.” – Twickenham and Richmond Tribune
https://ropetacklecentre.co.uk/events/wordfest-pretty-witty-nell/
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