Maurice’s Jubilee at the Theatre Royal Brighton

Revisit the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee via a love story with aroyal twist – Nichola McAuliffe’s hit play Maurice’s Jubilee at the Theatre Royal Brighton

Maurice’s Jubilee, the critically acclaimed smash hit play of Edinburgh last year, visits Theatre Royal Brighton for a week long run from Tuesday 26 February to Saturday 2 March.

The hilariously funny and moving play is written by and stars Olivier Award-winning actress Nichola McAuliffe. Nichola is joined by Olivier Award winner Julian Glover, whose many film credits include The Empire Strikes Back, Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade and For Your Eyes Only and appears in the current series of Game Of Thrones. Sheila Reid, who plays Madge Harvey in the double award-winning TV series Benidorm, also stars.

For sixty years Helena has been the Queen of Maurice’s heart. But a distant memory of Her Majesty The Queen still sparkles brightly in Maurice’s mind. Spurred on by that memory Maurice is determined to reach his 90th birthday and is convinced that The Queen, having made him a promise 60 years before, is expected for afternoon tea. His wife is dubious but the stage is set for a tender look at life and love in a long lasting marriage and a very British love affair with the Royal Family.

Nichola McAuliffe’s writing has been compared to Alan Bennett and both her co-stars are keen to emphasise the quality of the script. “When I read it, I thought that it just lifted off the page”, says Sheila Reid. Julian Glover agrees: “After six pages, I thought to myself that this is good. In fact, this is bloody good.”

Although the characters in this highly entertaining play are of a certain age, Nichola McAuliffe dismisses the idea that the play is about old age. “It’s not remotely about old age,” she insists. “It’s about how you love somebody for all that time and how your hopes and dreams remain the same. People of an age still have dreams and ambitions but they also have knowledge of life – which makes them interesting characters. Audiences identify with them.”

Sheila Reid explains Helena’s approach. “She’s very practical and she copes – like Madge in Benidorm, she’s a survivor. In the course of the play, however, she has to learn forgiveness and understanding. At the same time, Maurice and Helena are very funny together. You feel that there’s nothing the two of them don’t know about each other and I love playing that familiarity between them.”

Do not miss the funny and moving tale of an ordinary man’s enduring commitment to a dream, and of a love triangle with a regal twist, Maurice’s Jubilee during its Brighton run.

Maurice’s Jubilee, Tuesday 26 February–Saturday 2 March, Theatre Royal Brighton, Box Office 0844 871 7650*
www.atgtickets.com/brighton*
*Subject to booking fee
Ticket prices £10–£29.50, Seniors £22.50, Students & under 25: £10 for best available seats matinees and Wed/Thu eves