Theatre News

Maurice’s Jubilee opens tour in Manchester, 24 Jan

Following a sell out run at the 2012 Edinburgh Festival, the play Maurice’s Jubilee is opening its national tour at the Opera House Manchester later this month.

Maurice’s Jubilee stars Nichola McAuliffe, alongside Julian Glover (Maurice) and Sheila Reid. It is directed by multiple Fringe First winner Hannah Eidinow and is designed by Christopher Richardson.

A Royal encounter. An enduring love. A bungalow in Penge. Maurice is determined to reach his 90th birthday, which is the day before the diamond jubilee. The Queen, having made him a promise 60 years before, is coming to tea.  His wife is convinced he’s never met the Queen. His nurse thinks it’s time he did.

Julian Glover’s stage credits include Oliver at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, Henry IV and Henry V for the Royal Shakespeare Company, The Voysey Inheritance at the National Theatre and Richard II at the Old Vic. His screen credits include Game of Thrones, The Empire Strikes Back, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and For Your Eyes Only.

Nichola McAuliffe won The Stage Edinburgh Award for Best Actress for her role in Maurice’s Jubilee and the play follows the international success of A British Subject. Nichola also won the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for Kiss Me Kate at the Old Vic, and was nominated for another Olivier for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the Palladium Theatre.  She recently toured in Alan Bennett’s The Lady in the Van. On screen she is best known for playing Sheila Sabatini in Surgical Spirit, for seven series.

Sheila Reid’s stage work includes American Trade for the Royal
Shakespeare Company, Lucky Numbers at the Royal Court, Uncle Vanya at
the Young Vic and In Extremis at The Globe. On screen, Sheila is best
known for playing Madge Harvey in Benidorm, a part that has earned her
two National Television Awards and several BAFTA nominations.

Director Hannah Eidinow is a five time Fringe First Award winning director for Somewhere Beneath it All and A Small Fire Burns Still at Edinburgh 2011, An Instinct for Kindness at Edinburgh 2011, London & UK tour, Lockerbie: Unfinished Business at Edinburgh 2010/11 & UK tour, What I Heard About Iraq at Edinburgh 2006, UK Tour & West End and Gone at Edinburgh & West End 2004.

Maurice’s Jubilee is at the Manchester Opera House from 24 – 26 January, 2013.