REVIEW
✭✭✭✭☆ 4/5
Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch’s National Tour of
Moira Buffini’s
Handbagged
13 Feb 25 – 22 Feb 25
as part of National Theatre’s Theatre Nation Partnerships network
✭✭✭✭☆ 4/5
Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch’s National Tour of
Moira Buffini’s
Handbagged
13 Feb 25 – 22 Feb 25
as part of National Theatre’s Theatre Nation Partnerships network
An entertaining take on the Maggie Thatcher years
When Moira Buffini wrote the play Handbagged it was the year Margaret Thatcher died, but the Queen was still alive. Now watching this amusing comedy about the Thatcher years as Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990, and her meetings with the Queen, there is something rather poignant about it. Both ladies have now passed on and will become a footnote in history.
The play revolves around four characters the older and younger versions of both individuals. They interact with each other by walking around on a raised platform and discuss events that occurred during the reign of both. Discussions utilise some of Maggie’s (as she became known) speeches, with her strident views coming across in her talks with the Queen who quietly undermines her.
The older Queen provides some of the comedy with her comments and quiet asides. However, most of the fun revolves around Cassius Konneh and Gerard McDermott, who play all the other parts. They appear in various guises as Denis Thatcher, Geoffrey Howe, Arthur Scargill, Michael Shea the Queen’s PR, Lord Carrington, Gerry Adams, and even Ronald Regan. The latter has Maggie fawning over him because of his film star status, until she feels betrayed by his initial lack of support in the Falklands war. These two actors often step out of character to chat on stage about who wants to play which part, both of them wanting to be Neil Kinnock to proclaim the warning speech of life under Tories being a’ curfew of fear.’ Konneh who is black, refuses to play Enoch Powell as he doesn’t agree with his racism and, Maggie has to declaim Powell’s speech of admiration for her, herself.
The play revolves around four characters the older and younger versions of both individuals. They interact with each other by walking around on a raised platform and discuss events that occurred during the reign of both. Discussions utilise some of Maggie’s (as she became known) speeches, with her strident views coming across in her talks with the Queen who quietly undermines her.
The older Queen provides some of the comedy with her comments and quiet asides. However, most of the fun revolves around Cassius Konneh and Gerard McDermott, who play all the other parts. They appear in various guises as Denis Thatcher, Geoffrey Howe, Arthur Scargill, Michael Shea the Queen’s PR, Lord Carrington, Gerry Adams, and even Ronald Regan. The latter has Maggie fawning over him because of his film star status, until she feels betrayed by his initial lack of support in the Falklands war. These two actors often step out of character to chat on stage about who wants to play which part, both of them wanting to be Neil Kinnock to proclaim the warning speech of life under Tories being a’ curfew of fear.’ Konneh who is black, refuses to play Enoch Powell as he doesn’t agree with his racism and, Maggie has to declaim Powell’s speech of admiration for her, herself.
McDermott complains that he only took the part because he needed a job and that one of the characters has only one line. When that arrives it belongs to Prince Phillip and his irritable complaint ’to tell that bloody woman to sit down,’ brought a round of applause, and much hilarity.
In the beginning, Maggie is shown as almost genuflecting when she first meets the Queen. However, as time goes on she is presented as more power crazed. It looks as though she believes that she is the only one that can save the world.
Along the way we are treated to a rendition of ELO’s Mr Blue Sky, We Are Family, Thank God I’m A Country Boy, Hungry Like the Wolf, China in Your Hand and others songs.
The older and younger versions, played by Morag Cross, Emma Ernest, Sarah Moyle and Helen Reuben stand on the stage, clutching their handbags. They all give strong performances. Maggie wearing her famous suits with the heavily lacquered hair looking as if she fell over she would break it. All adopt the recognisable vocal tones. Particularly the voice that Maggie acquired when she was being condescending and the younger Queen’s clipped high-pitched voice. The older Queen constantly chips in with comments such as, ‘That never happened, and ‘No I didn’t,’ and little witticisms about the PM. She first appears bringing in a chair for Maggie who never sits down, and was more of a caricature in the Spitting Image mould. However, it wasn’t clear from the cast list details, which actor played which part as the roles Q and T and Liz and Queen doesn’t indicate which is the elder.
Of course, apart from the events and the historical speeches, most of what happens in the meetings can only be supposition. However, we hear about Rhodesia and Mugabe, the Falklands War, the Brighton bombing by the IRA, the miner’s strike, Section 28 re homosexuality and many more. When Maggie is declaiming her successes, Cassius Konneh tries to intervene and point out that at the time she was saving the world, she had caused great diversity. There were riots in Toxteth and police brutality at peaceful protests. He is slapped down, and told that nobody is interested.
The play presents the Queen as being concerned that everyone pulling together after WW2 is being changed by the materialism and selfishness of the Thatcher years. She is also worried about press intrusion, particularly regarding Princess Diana, but Thatcher is shown as most unsympathetic. Even when the Queen has concerns for Prince Andrew fighting in the Falklands, she only sympathises when her son takes a wrong turn in a desert car rally. When the Queen states that Thatcher’s economic policies are not improving the lot of the poor, it is pointed out that her concern is rather odd coming from one of the richest people in the world.
The older Queen constantly undermines Thatcher, particularly during her Christmas TV message. She even insists that the play has an interval, whilst the workaholic Thatcher wants to press on. Then the queens come out into the auditorium and royally shake hands with the audience.
I think that Buffini’s play is based on the playwright’s own socialist views. The Queen is really a liberal fantasy. She’s even called a Socialist by Thatcher, who is too much of a humourless tyrant. As the play progresses she’s shown as believing, she is more important than the Queen. However, at the end of the play when the Queen informs her that Michael Shea has died of dementia and, Maggie replies that people don’t die of dementia, that they live with it, it is all rather sad. That is how Maggie ended her days having been forced out as a Tory leader.
In the beginning, Maggie is shown as almost genuflecting when she first meets the Queen. However, as time goes on she is presented as more power crazed. It looks as though she believes that she is the only one that can save the world.
Along the way we are treated to a rendition of ELO’s Mr Blue Sky, We Are Family, Thank God I’m A Country Boy, Hungry Like the Wolf, China in Your Hand and others songs.
The older and younger versions, played by Morag Cross, Emma Ernest, Sarah Moyle and Helen Reuben stand on the stage, clutching their handbags. They all give strong performances. Maggie wearing her famous suits with the heavily lacquered hair looking as if she fell over she would break it. All adopt the recognisable vocal tones. Particularly the voice that Maggie acquired when she was being condescending and the younger Queen’s clipped high-pitched voice. The older Queen constantly chips in with comments such as, ‘That never happened, and ‘No I didn’t,’ and little witticisms about the PM. She first appears bringing in a chair for Maggie who never sits down, and was more of a caricature in the Spitting Image mould. However, it wasn’t clear from the cast list details, which actor played which part as the roles Q and T and Liz and Queen doesn’t indicate which is the elder.
Of course, apart from the events and the historical speeches, most of what happens in the meetings can only be supposition. However, we hear about Rhodesia and Mugabe, the Falklands War, the Brighton bombing by the IRA, the miner’s strike, Section 28 re homosexuality and many more. When Maggie is declaiming her successes, Cassius Konneh tries to intervene and point out that at the time she was saving the world, she had caused great diversity. There were riots in Toxteth and police brutality at peaceful protests. He is slapped down, and told that nobody is interested.
The play presents the Queen as being concerned that everyone pulling together after WW2 is being changed by the materialism and selfishness of the Thatcher years. She is also worried about press intrusion, particularly regarding Princess Diana, but Thatcher is shown as most unsympathetic. Even when the Queen has concerns for Prince Andrew fighting in the Falklands, she only sympathises when her son takes a wrong turn in a desert car rally. When the Queen states that Thatcher’s economic policies are not improving the lot of the poor, it is pointed out that her concern is rather odd coming from one of the richest people in the world.
The older Queen constantly undermines Thatcher, particularly during her Christmas TV message. She even insists that the play has an interval, whilst the workaholic Thatcher wants to press on. Then the queens come out into the auditorium and royally shake hands with the audience.
I think that Buffini’s play is based on the playwright’s own socialist views. The Queen is really a liberal fantasy. She’s even called a Socialist by Thatcher, who is too much of a humourless tyrant. As the play progresses she’s shown as believing, she is more important than the Queen. However, at the end of the play when the Queen informs her that Michael Shea has died of dementia and, Maggie replies that people don’t die of dementia, that they live with it, it is all rather sad. That is how Maggie ended her days having been forced out as a Tory leader.
This play is an entertaining example of the relationship between the two women who now both have passed. The people who lived through those years will find it hilariously entertaining, as the two most formidable women of that time battle it out. Maggie strident and argumentative, the Queen quietly getting her own way. Thatcher divided opinion like none before her. She left an indelible mark on the country that she wanted to make great again (sound like anyone else we know?).
This very cleverly, observed comedy, in imagining what took place at the meetings of the Prime Minister and the Queen is very amusing, and entertaining.
Review – Jacquee Storozynski-Toll
This very cleverly, observed comedy, in imagining what took place at the meetings of the Prime Minister and the Queen is very amusing, and entertaining.
Review – Jacquee Storozynski-Toll
Performances continue:
13 – 22 Feb 2025
7.30pm – matinees 2.30 pm Saturday and 1pm Thurs 20 Feb.
Prices
Previews | £12.50* – £19.50*
Mon – Thu & Matinees | £19* – £27*
Fri & Sat | £21.50* – £29*
Under 26s | £8 all performances
* +70p QNext fee
BSL interpreted (Interpreter Martin Fox-Roberts): Wed 19 Feb | 7:30pm
Audio Described: Available at all performances after Wed 12 Feb
Age Guidance: 14+
All children aged under 14 must be seated with an accompanying adult (18+) when watching a performance.
Handbagged by Moira Buffini is touring as part of a Theatre Nation Partnerships network.
13 – 22 Feb 2025
7.30pm – matinees 2.30 pm Saturday and 1pm Thurs 20 Feb.
Prices
Previews | £12.50* – £19.50*
Mon – Thu & Matinees | £19* – £27*
Fri & Sat | £21.50* – £29*
Under 26s | £8 all performances
* +70p QNext fee
BSL interpreted (Interpreter Martin Fox-Roberts): Wed 19 Feb | 7:30pm
Audio Described: Available at all performances after Wed 12 Feb
Age Guidance: 14+
All children aged under 14 must be seated with an accompanying adult (18+) when watching a performance.
Handbagged by Moira Buffini is touring as part of a Theatre Nation Partnerships network.
- Moira Buffini’s fly-on-the-wall comedy about Queen Elizabeth II and Margaret Thatcher has been reimagined with music featuring reworkings of 80s pop classics
- Casting includes Emma Ernest (Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare’s Globe) and Morag Cross (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Palace Theatre) as Margaret Thatcher and Helen Reuben (Cabaret, English Theatre Frankfurt) and Sarah Moyle (BBC’s Doctors) as Queen Elizabeth II
A reimagined revival of Moira Buffini’s comedy Handbagged will tour across England from February to May produced by Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch in partnership with the National Theatre. The England-wide tour is part of the Theatre Nation Partnerships network which is led by the National Theatre and aims to support regional arts organisations in strengthening their relationships with local audiences, communities and schools.
Imagining the conversations between two of history’s most revered female leaders, Handbagged is a fly-on-the-wall look at what might have happened when Queen Elizabeth II and Margaret Thatcher came face-to-face in the privacy of the palace. Directed by Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch’s Alex Thorpe, this fresh interpretation of the play will feature new music composed for the show, a cappella singing, and remixed pop classics of the iconic era. A clever and fiercely funny comedy, Handbagged explores the intense relationship that two female powerhouses formed over a decade, and the legacy they each left behind.
Casting for Margaret Thatcher and Queen Elizabeth II includes, as ‘Mags’, Emma Ernest who has previously appeared as Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare’s Globe, 2024), and portraying ‘Liz’, Helen Reuben after previously playing Sally Bowles in Cabaret (English Theatre Frankfurt, 2019) and the title role in Pictures of Dorian Gray (Jermyn Street Theatre, 2019). Appearing as 'T' and 'Q', the older versions of the main characters, are Morag Cross who previously appeared in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Palace Theatre, 2016, 2018 & 2022) and Sarah Moyle best known for playing the much-loved series regular ‘Valerie’ in BBC’s Doctors. Further casting includes Cassius Konneh and Gerard McDermott who will multirole the 17 other characters in the play. Completing the ensemble is Tiajna Amayo and Jane Quinn.
Director Alex Thorpe said, “I am thrilled to welcome this multi-talented cast to Hornchurch as we prepare to embark on the most ambitious TNP tour to date. As we reexamine these fierce and famed women, joining this ensemble company is some of the UK’s most exciting creative talents, realising Moira Buffini’s satirically funny comedy. Performed on Katie Lias’ golden contemporary set and propelled by Kate Marlais's reworking of 80’s pop classics and the award-winning Ryan Day’s lighting – this truly extraordinary team is not to be missed.”
Theatre Nation Partnerships is a collaboration between 13 partners across 14 areas, combining local expertise with nationally-delivered activity to build and sustain audiences for theatre across England.
Activity includes touring to local venues and into schools, participatory opportunities and in-depth engagement with community groups.
Between 2022 to 2025, the network’s focus is on welcoming new audiences to theatre and creating more opportunities for people to engage, supporting the long-term health of local theatre audiences. The Theatre Nation Partnerships network will reach 500,000 targeted audiences, young people, and community groups over this three-year period.
Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is a vibrant producing theatre, working in Outer East London, Essex and beyond. As a cultural hub, over 210,000 people enjoy the programme each year. Audiences are guaranteed a warm welcome from a three-year winner of UK Theatre’s Most Welcoming Theatre (2016 – 2018) and London Theatre of the Year 2020 (The Stage Awards), the first Outer London theatre to receive this prestigious award.
Suitable for ages 10+
Company information
Playwright Moira Buffini Director Alex Thorpe
Designer Katie Lias Lighting Designer Ryan Day
Musical Director and Arranger Kate Marlais
Sound Designer Owen Crouch
Movement Director Jonnie Riordan
Assistant Director Chani Merrell
Costume Supervisor Chantal Short Casting Director Chloe Bake
Accent Coach Danièle Lydon Design Assistant Victoria Maytom
Production Manager James Dawson Company Stage Manager Debs Harlow
Deputy Stage Manager Lizzie Bond Assistant Stage Manager Sofie Mirza
Cast
Tiajna Amayo, Morag Cross, Emma Ernest, Cassius Konneh, Gerard McDermott, Sarah Moyle, Jane Quinn, Helen Reuben
Social media
X @QueensTheatreH
Instagram @QueensTheatreHornchurch
Facebook www.facebook.com/QueensTheatreH
#HandbaggedTour