“We live in our own timeline and are judged by the next”
What happens when a group of royals, transported from various periods of history, join a therapy session and talk about their feelings? The massive egos of Henry VIII, Marie Antoinette, Charles II, Sophia Duleep Singh and Mansa Musa inevitably clash, resulting in jousting matches and fist fights. They reluctantly do the therapist’s exercises, all trying to outdo one another. When the existence of the Monarchs’ Anonymous sessions are leaked to the press, the group find themselves having to put their egos to one side to work together, revealing some deep truths and traumas of their lives in the process.
On its surface, Monarchs’ Anonymous, written by Nadia Devereux, Joshua Poole and Lyon Devereux, is a jolly surreal romp featuring well-known and less well-known historical figures. The writing is sharp and there are some neat topical references and laugh-out-loud moments. But there’s also a deeper discussion of the role of monarchy and the way history decides who is remembered. Sophia Duleep Singh was a British suffragette, the daughter of Maharaja Sir Duleep Singh. Born in London, she became an outspoken proponent of Votes for Women. Then there’s Mansa Musa, ruler of the Mali Empire and said to be the richest man in the world in the 14th Century. He was instrumental in establishing the University of Timbuktu and spreading education throughout his empire. So there is an unexpected educational aspect that has been slipped into the narrative. All the characters make the point that people generally only know the “headlines” of their personalities, even when they are well-known, but there’s so much more to them all.
The cast are all excellent. While the characters are fairly broad-brush, the actors give well-defined performances. The therapist, Dr Thompson, is long-suffering and Kat Marchant imbues her with a world-weariness as she struggles to maintain control of the group. Helen Devereux is a joyfully inebriated Marie Antoinette, William Harry Mitchell gives Henry VIII a vulnerable side, and Joshua Poole’s Charles II is flamboyant and playful. George Eggay is a powerful Mansa Musa, leaving the audience wondering why they haven’t heard of him before. Similarly, Harriet Sharmini Smithers is a feisty Sophia Duleep Singh, a figure who is now largely unknown.
This play started life as an online sitcom during the pandemic, garnering an international fanbase before being adapted for the stage by Ceridwen Theatre. This evolution in itself is a fascinating blueprint for how a production can develop from small beginnings and in this case, from the worldwide shock of Covid, into an entertaining theatrical experience.
Monarchs Anonymous is playing at The Other Palace Theatre, Palace Street, London, until 28th June. Tickets can be booked at: https://theotherpalace.co.uk/
Reviewer: Carole Gordon
Reviewed: 24th June 2026
North West End UK Rating:
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