Handbagged

Handbagged is a play by Moira Buffini that imagines what Margaret Thatcher and Queen Elizabeth II talked about behind closed palace doors. It won the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre in 2014.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 128 pages
Publication date: 15 September 2022
Publisher: Faber & Faber

I have dedicated my entire life to the ever-changing tides of power, a force that brings with it both immense blessings and a dangerous allure. It is a temptation that one must be cautious of, for the excessive consumption of it can lead to downfall. Among the powerful, the monarch stands as the epitome, her most formidable subject. Every week, for a span of eleven years, two women come together. One of them believes in the absence of society, while the other has made a solemn oath to serve it.

Moira Buffini's wickedly humorous play, Handbagged, takes us into the private realm of two of the world's most influential women: Margaret Thatcher and Queen Elizabeth II. Through a series of captivating conversations, the play imagines the private discussions that took place behind the closed doors of the palaces.

Handbagged was first performed in September 2013 and returned to the Kiln Theatre in London in September 2022, after winning the 2014 Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre. The play has been praised for its perfect balance between comedy and seriousness, earning it recognition from esteemed publications such as the Sunday Telegraph and the Guardian.

This captivating play offers a unique perspective on the lives and legacies of these remarkable women, shedding light on the power dynamics, challenges, and personal struggles that shaped their remarkable journeys. It is a testament to the enduring power of storytelling and the ability of theatre to bring history to life in a compelling and engaging manner.

Weight: 155g
Dimension: 197 x 130 x 10 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780571381425
Edition number: Main