Two queens. One in power. One in prison. It's all in the execution.

Schiller's political tragedy takes us behind the scenes of British history's famous rivalry between Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots. Written in verse and based on historical sources, Schiller's play imagines the queens' lives - one in court, the other in prison - surrounded by staff and servants. Their imagined meeting, before Mary's execution, is passionate and enthralling.

Robert Icke's lean version condenses the action, cutting the cast to twelve, whilst retaining the play's symmetrical structure and tense atmosphere.

In an exciting twist, the first production had two actors learn the roles of both queens, and their roles were decided at each performance by the toss of a coin. Adding a further duality to the play, this also allowed the first word of the evening to anticipate its ending:'Heads'.

Schiller's political tragedy takes us behind the scenes of British history's famous rivalry between Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots.

About the Author

Robert Icke is an award-winning writer and director. In 2018, he won the Kurt Hubner Award for his debut production in Germany, and was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.


His work as Associate Director of the Almeida Theatre has included adapting and directing the multi-award-winning Oresteia (also West End), Mary Stuart, Uncle Vanya. With Duncan Macmillan he adapted and directed the smash-hit 1984, which has toured the world, played three seasons in the West End and won several major awards. His directing work includes Hamlet, Iliad, Odyssey, The Fever, Mr Burns (Almeida) and The Red Barn (National).

Book Information
ISBN 9781786820259
Author Robert Icke
Format Paperback
Page Count 122
Imprint Oberon Books Ltd
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Weight(grams) 140g
Dimensions(mm) 196mm * 124mm * 10mm