Join in with Maurice's Jubilee at Windsor Theatre Royal

Hannah Shroot • Published 16 Mar 2013 06:30 0 Comments

A HEART-WARMING love story with a royal twist is coming to the stage on the Queen's doorstep.

Maurice's Jubilee, which was met with a glowing reception from sell-out audiences at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival last year, is on a four-month tour of the country - and will come to Windsor's Theatre Royal next month.

The Empire Strikes Back star and Bond baddie Julian Glover takes on the charismatic role of Maurice, who is set to celebrate his 90th birthday on the eve of the Diamond Jubilee of the Coronation.

On the night before the Coronation in 1953 Maurice was tasked with delivering the Crown Jewels to the Queen - an experience he relives frequently.

She promised to visit him precisely 60 years later for tea, and the elderly man eagerly anticipates her arrival. Veteran stage actress Gay Soper steps into the shoes of his exasperated wife Helena, who feels she is constantly competing with Her Majesty for her husband's affections.

Olivier award-winning actress Nichola McAuliffe penned the play, which is her second, and also features on stage as nurse Katy.

The former Coronation Street actress says the idea for the play came to her fully-formed on a drive from Edinburgh to London after the funeral of her 'young at heart' mother-in-law.

Describing the story, which took her three weeks to write, she says: "It's a poignant tale, about a man coming to the end of his life, about someone's dreams."

She believes the show will appeal to all ages, and the humour throughout avoids letting the touching storyline become sickly or sentimental. When asked about entrusting her characters to Julian and Gay, she says she couldn't have asked for a better cast - although admitted tempting big-named stars to the Fringe Festival, far removed from West End glamour, can be difficult.

She said: "Some actors don't want to do something like that, because it's not glamorous.

"It can be more of an open your address book and phone your mates situation."

But she adds: "To have two actors like Julian and Gay - they both more than do the characters justice."

To buy tickets for the show, which will run from Monday - Saturday April 8-13, visit www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk Prices range from £11-£31.50.

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This article appeared in Bracknell News 14 Mar 13

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