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Rona Munro proved herself a wily and entertaining raconteur of Scottish history in The James Plays, which toured Scotland and were seen at the National Theatre in 2014. Now she turns her attention to Mary Queen of Scots in a political thriller about the life and times of a woman surrounded by intrigue and plotting. Can James Melville (Shetland star, Douglas Henshall) save the troubled queen? Or will the loyal diplomat find himself outwitted, or having to make choices that lead to disaster? Intriguingly, Mary herself is the centre of the play but never appears in a story in which heads and hearts will be lost. Roxana Silbert directs.
About Mary
"She made some very poor decisions. You tried to warn her. You love her yet, and that’s a credit to you, but you need to think about what’s best for Scotland…" It’s 1567. Meet James Melville, an intelligent, charismatic and skilled diplomat who is also one of the most loyal servants of Mary Stuart, the troubled Queen of Scots. It’s a time of political turmoil and the shocking crimes he has witnessed have shaken him. Now he needs to decide who’s guilty, who’s innocent, and who is too dangerous to accuse. Rona Munro’s new political thriller marks her welcome return to Hampstead after her successes with Bold Girls (1991), The Maiden Stone (1995), Snake (1999), Little Eagles (2011) and Donny’s Brain (2012). Roxana Silbert, Hampstead’s Artistic Director (The Haystack, 'night, Mother, The Fever Syndrome, Folk) reunites with Munro, having previously directed her plays Iron (Royal Court) and Little Eagles (Hampstead).