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Nelly - A Folk Musical Success

Nelly - A Folk Musical. L-R: Rob Peach, Robb Johnson, Graham Hopkins, Kip Winter, Dave Wilson and Emily Jane Brooks. Photo by Ann Evans.


Nelly - A Folk Musical written by Graham Hopkins, performed at St Mary's Guildhall on Saturday 7 September 2024.

Review by Ann Evans.

 

What a pleasure it was to go along to Graham Hopkins' production of Nelly - A Folk Musical which told of the life and loves of Nell Gwynne, known for being the long-time mistress of King Charles II. She was also a fine comedy actress of her time, of whom Samuel Pepys once wrote "Pretty, witty Nell."

 

Nell Gwynne lived through the Great Fire of London and the plague, her personality winning people over wherever she went and whoever she met. It’s said of her: “Playwrights, poets and politicians – the sharpest minds courted her and were part of her ‘merry gang’. “The darling strumpet of the crowd.”

 

Writer, Producer and Director Graham Hopkins, born in Coventry and now living in Nottinghamshire is the author of 'Nell Gwynne - A Passionate Life’, published in 2002, although he has been fascinated with her since being in sixth form at school when he wrote 'Oliver!' a musical about Oliver Cromwell.

 

“II guess I’m just celebrating the love of my life, the trouble is, she died 335 years ago!” says Graham.


The venue of St Mary's Guildhall could not have been more appropriate for this play to be staged. With 700 years of history behind it which on occasions has been the seat of power, with Parliament being held there, it also once served as a prison for Mary Queen of Scots. 

 

With a backdrop of the historic tapestry and magnificent stained-glass windows, the stage was set for Nelly – A Folk Musical. In the starring role was Emily Jane Brooks, born in Coventry who also studied Theatre and Performance and French at the University of Warwick. She's an accomplished lead vocalist and a member of The D-Day Darlings (Britain’s Got Talent finalists).

 

New to the cast was Rob Peach who played King Charles II and all the other male characters. Rob has appeared in shows at the Leicester Curve Theatre and Nottingham’s Amplify Festival, as well as appearances on TV and a starring role in While She Sleeps “To The Flowers” music videos. His next project is a production of his play, Sure Start, a drama about austerity, opening 2025.

 

The musicians performing in Nelly - A Folk Musical were Robb Johnson; and Kip Winter & Dave Wilson (Winter-Wilson) with Stage Manager Matty Hopkins making it all tick. The show has 15 beautiful songs, created by some of the folk world’s best songwriters. These have been written by Jo Freya, Robb Johnson, Reg Meuross, Lucy Ward, Boff Whalley and Dave Wilson.

 

The production was everything that Graham and his team could have hoped for. Delightful acting, beautiful, emotional music, harmonies and singing, with a script full of wit and humour. Pretty Witty Nell all over again!

 

Graham has dedicated his musical to his two brothers, Ian and Mark. With two songs written especially for them which were performed at the start of the play. Sadly, Mark lost his battle against cancer and previously Ian was too poorly with cancer to see his brother's musical. However, this year Ian and his wife had front row seats and thoroughly enjoyed the matinee and the evening performances.

  

After the matinee performance, a very happy Ian said, “It was brilliant, wasn’t it! Graham is so clever. I thought it was just magic!”

 


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