Historical figure's life documented through song in Nelly - The Folk Musical to play in Southwell and Newark

Comedy meets history on the stage this season with a modern take on a national heroine.

Nelly – The Folk Musical will follow the life of Nell Gwynne, a woman born into poverty in the 1600s working as a cinder girl, a fish hawker and an orange seller but went on to become the leading comedy actress of her day.

Written by Nell Gwynne biographer, Graham Hopkins, the musical will offer up a mirror to contemporary politics against the historical backdrop of a king being restored to the throne, a plague, the Great Fire, and plenty of plotting in this colourful story.

"Nelly is perhaps best known to history as the mistress of Charles II. But is really known to us because she was funny. Samuel Pepys called her 'pretty witty Nell'. Playwrights, poets and politicians, the sharpest minds courted her and were part of her merry gang." said Graham.

"350 years on, what’s changed? A plague, a corrupt government, a dodgy duke of York. Ahem."

Emily Jane Brooks, who will be playing Nelly, said: “I loved the script straight away with its mix of history, humour and heart and I just loved the idea of a score rooted in folk music.

"There’s a fabulous original score, a lot of laughs, and witty popular culture references.”

If theatre is all about storytelling and and so is folk music, then with 19 songs ranging from funny to moving and written by Jo Freya, Robb Johnson, Reg Meuross, Lucy Ward, Boff Whalley and Dave Wilson, it's sure to be an entertaining show.

Nelly – A Folk Musical will play at WI Hall, Southwell on September 24 and 25, The Civil War Museum, Newark on October 28 and at Newark Castle on November 1.

As Robb Johnson (who will also be performing at most venues) says: “It’s both seriously moving & seriously funny”. Conor Lynam (playing all the male roles) agrees and says we can expect “laughs and a fantastically told story.” Finally, our