The Audience

The Audience, Gielgud Theatre, 2013.

Cast: Helen Mirren, Michael Elwyn, Haydn Gwynne, Richard McCabe, Nathaniel Parker, Paul Ritter, Rufus Wright, Edward Fox, David Peart, Geoffrey Beevers, Bebe Cave, Maya Gerber, Nell Williams, Charlotte Moore, Harry Feltham, Matt Plumb, Spencer Kitchen, Elaine Solomon, Jonathan Coote, Ian Houghton.

Writer: Peter Morgan

Director: Stephen Daldry

I guess this is the reason The Crown exists, which I think has become something of a mixed blessing. It's the only time I've seen Helen Mirren on stage. I think she's done other stuff that I could have seen, probably most notably some big Greek drama at the National Theatre which is not my cup of tea at all. I doubt I'll get the chance to see her again. I remember liking it a lot, possibly because I have a slight weakness for fictionalised versions of the Queen - we knew so little about her despite her always being there that she was ideal for this kind of thing. I'm not expecting the same to happen to the King.