Actor Nichola McAuliffe, last seen at The Waterside in Alan Bennett’s Lady In The Van, has written an affectionate new comedy that comes to the venue at the end of this month.
At the centre of Maurice’s Jubilee is 90-year-old Maurice who 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 at his bungalow in Penge. His wife is convinced he’s never met the Queen. His nurse thinks it’s time he did.
This is Olivier Award winning McAuliffe’s most recent play and she also stars alongside Olivier Award winning Julian Glover (Maurice) and Sheila Reid (Helena).
Olivier Award winning 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.
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. Sheila was also a member of Laurence Olivier’s National Theatre Company. 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.
Nichola McAuliffe’s 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. Her recent celebrated performance was 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.
Maurice’s Jubilee runs from Jan 29 to Feb 2. To book tickets call the box office 0844 871 7607 (bkg fee) or visit www.atgtickets.com/aylesbury
