★★★★½
Review by Simon Rothstein
Pictures by Robert Day
“My clothes say what I can’t…”
So says Queen Elizabeth II in Chelmsford Theatre’s By Royal Appointment, and this fascinating play about the late monarch’s wardrobe reveals just how much she could communicate without saying a word.
The first thing to say is that the costume design is fantastic, recreating some of the Queen’s most memorable looks and bringing key moments in recent history to life through her eyes.
There is the blue-and-yellow hat worn for the State Opening of Parliament after the Brexit referendum, and the striking green outfit she wore on her historic visit to Ireland in 2011, when the colour itself carried a message of welcome and goodwill.
Other costumes have more personal associations, including those chosen for family weddings and funerals, or the brooch worn when meeting the infamous Mrs Simpson.
The attention to detail is wonderful, and the first thing you will do after leaving the theatre is look up photographs of the original events to see just how closely they match.
But what sets this play apart is that it is about so much more than what the Queen wore.
Daisy Goodwin’s writing takes us into the lives of the four very different central characters: Queen Elizabeth II (Jane Asher), her dresser (Laura Main), her designer (David Robb) and her milliner (Matthew Cottle).
As we follow their lives over several decades, we see them deal with love, infidelity, coming out, divorce, death, disability and the ageing process that finally catches up with us all.
Some of the story is based on real people and events, while other elements have been introduced for dramatic effect, but you become genuinely invested in all four lives.
The chemistry between the actors is excellent. Stage legend Jane Asher brings real presence to the Queen, capturing the person behind the familiar public image, while Call the Midwife’s Laura Main is superb as the dresser from Wigan who strikes up an extraordinarily close relationship with a woman from a background that couldn’t be more different.
David Robb and Matthew Cottle are equally impressive, bringing their own personalities and vulnerabilities to the designer and milliner. Together, the four create a convincing picture of people who work closely together, sometimes liking each other and sometimes not, but ultimately learning to respect and look out for one another.
Laura Matthews also does a great job as the fifth character in the show, the curator, introducing the exhibition that frames the story and helping to place the Queen’s outfits in their historical context before each is revealed.
The play has plenty of laughs, but is ultimately about something much more poignant.
Without wishing to spoil the narrative, there is a powerful sadness in the play’s exploration of what happens when someone who has devoted their life to a particular role is no longer needed. It is a message that goes well beyond the Royal household, and one that stays with you long after the final curtain.
Best of all, we get to enjoy all of this in the intimate surroundings of the gorgeous Chelmsford Theatre, where the story feels all the more personal.
As Daisy Goodwin puts it: “It is the greatest feeling in the world to come to a theatre like Chelmsford and see people really enjoying themselves. In London, audiences are spoiled, but in Chelmsford the audiences are so appreciative and it is a privilege to serve them.”
By Royal Appointment is funny, moving, beautifully costumed and full of fascinating historical detail.
Some of the descriptions of dresses and hats go on a little too long, although, as a middle-aged man, I may not be the target audience for that part of the show!
Ultimately, this is a play that offers a fresh perspective on a Monarch we have all seen depicted many times, while reminding us that behind the carefully constructed outfits and public image were real people with complicated lives, relationships and emotions.
A thoroughly enjoyable evening of theatre that I highly recommend.
- By Royal Appointment plays at Chelmsford Theatre from Tue 20 October 2026 – Sat 24 October 2026 as part of a UK Tour. Find out more and book tickets here.
