Mrs Warren’s Profession – Richmond Theatre
George Bernard Shaw wrote Mrs Warren's profession in 1893. It was immediately banned by the Lord Chamberlain, and it was not until 1925 that it had its first public performance. A lot has changed in the last hundred years, and there is little in the text now which would scandalise. Indeed, given that it is dealing with issues of prostitution it is surprisingly coy in its use of language.
The core of the play is the relationship and conflict between Mrs Warren, who has made a prosperous living through her prostitution business, and her daughter, who has benefited, largely unknowingly, from the financial security and educational and economic advantages which her mother's wealth has provided her. In this production, the mother and daughter are played by real mother and daughter Caroline a...