Cast Announced for National Tour of Moira Buffini’s fly-on-the-wall comedy Handbagged that comes to Lowry this March

Moira Buffini’s fly-on-the-wall comedy about Queen Elizabeth II and Margaret Thatcher has been reimagined with music featuring reworkings of 80s pop classics
Casting includes Emma Ernest (The Other Place, National Theatre) and Morag Cross (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Palace Theatre) as Margaret Thatcher and Helen Reuben (Cabaret, English Theatre Frankfurt) and Sarah Moyle (BBC’s Doctors) as Queen Elizabeth II

A reimagined revival of Moira Buffini’s comedy Handbagged will tour the tour across England from February to May, including Lowry, Salford from 18th to 22nd March. Produced by Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch in partnership with the National Theatre, the England-wide tour is part of the Theatre Nation Partnerships network which is led by the National Theatre.

Following an imagined conversation between two of history’s most revered female leaders, Handbagged is a fly-on-the-wall look at what might have happened when Queen Elizabeth II and Margaret Thatcher came face-to-face in the privacy of the palace. Directed by Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch’s Alex Thorpe, this fresh interpretation of the play will feature new music composed for the show, a cappella singing, and remixed pop classics of the iconic era. A clever and fiercely funny comedy, Handbagged explores the intense relationship that two female powerhouses formed over a decade, and the legacy they each left behind.

Casting for Margaret Thatcher and Queen Elizabeth II includes, as ‘Mags’, Emma Ernest who has previously appeared as an understudy in The Other Place (National Theatre, 2024) as well as Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare’s Globe, 2024), and portraying ‘Liz’, Helen Reuben after previously playing Sally Bowles in Cabaret (English Theatre Frankfurt, 2019) and the title role in Pictures of Dorian Gray (Jermyn Street Theatre, 2019). Appearing as 'T' and 'Q', the older versions of the main characters, are Morag Cross who previously appeared in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Palace Theatre, 2016, 2018 & 2022) and Sarah Moyle best known for playing the much-loved series regular ‘Valerie’ in BBC’s Doctors. Further casting includes Cassius Konneh and Gerard McDermott who will multirole the other characters in the play, understudied by Tiajna Amayo and Jane Quinn.

Director Alex Thorpe said, “I am thrilled to welcome this multi-talented cast as we prepare to embark on the most ambitious Theatre Nation Partnerships tour to date. As we reexamine these fierce and famed women, joining this ensemble company is some of the UK’s most exciting creative talents, realising Moira Buffini’s satirically funny comedy. Performed on Katie Lias’ golden contemporary set and propelled by Kate Marlais's reworking of 80’s pop classics and the award-winning Ryan Day’s lighting – this truly extraordinary team is not to be missed.”

Handbagged will open at Lowry, Salford from Tuesday 18th - Saturday 22nd March. For more information and tickets visit www.thelowry.com.