Holy and Unruly by David Beardsley

Queen Elizabeth I, at the height of her power, experiences disturbing dreams, strange visions, and inexplicable moments of panic. A petition for justice from Grace O’Malley, an Irish pirate feared from England to Africa, brings the Queen’s emotional crisis to a head, prompting her to revisit choices she made in the name of power--choices no man is asked to make. Rejecting the advice of her male advisors, the...
Queen Elizabeth I, at the height of her power, experiences disturbing dreams, strange visions, and inexplicable moments of panic. A petition for justice from Grace O’Malley, an Irish pirate feared from England to Africa, brings the Queen’s emotional crisis to a head, prompting her to revisit choices she made in the name of power--choices no man is asked to make. Rejecting the advice of her male advisors, the Queen sees Grace. When two of Europe’s most powerful and charismatic women meet, they wrestle with questions still relevant today: What does it take to rule your world? What are the costs?

Running time: 1:45, plus optional intermission
Characters: 10 (6 men, 3 women, 1 gender neutral)
Cast Size: 8 (4 men, 3 women, 1 gender neutral)
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Holy and Unruly

Recommended by

  • Donald Tongue:
    22 Jun. 2022
    “ Tapping into the timeless elements of a moment in time, David has marvelously crafted a historical fiction that skillfully weaves the relevant threads to connect with today's audiences. ”
  • Emma Goldman-Sherman:
    2 Feb. 2022
    “ A gorgeous and revelatory play about Queen Elizabeth that we all need to see onstage! So theatrical and lush in terms of its language and its scope while still being so producible. Great roles for women! Do this now! ”
  • Eugenie Carabatsos:
    3 May. 2021
    “ A really exciting take on a Queen Elizabeth story! This is a side of her and a story I haven't seen before on stage or elsewhere. A powerful imagining of a conversation between two very powerful, and yet constrained, women, the challenges they face, and the bond that they create. ”
View all 12 recommendations

Character Information

Please prioritize diversity over historical accuracy when casting. The female-identifying actor who plays Lady Scott must double as MacNally. The actor who plays Conroy doubles as Bingham.

  • Queen
    60,
    Any race/ethnic identity
    ,
    She/her
    Queen Elizabeth I of England. 60. She/her.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      40s, 50s, 60s, 70s+
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • Grace
    about 60,
    Any race/ethnic identity
    ,
    She/her
    Grace O'Malley, an Irish pirate from a powerful Irish family who have been pirates for centuries. About 60. She/her.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      40s, 50s, 60s, 70s+
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • The Unborn
    Age unknowable, but should seem young (teen or young adult).,
    Any race/ethnic identity
    ,
    Gender unknowable
    The Queen's never-conceived child. Age and gender unknowable. Non-speaking. The actor should be a dancer or have extensive movement experience.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • Dudley
    40s,
    Any race/ethnic identity
    ,
    he/him
    The Queen's long-dead love. 40s. He/him. Non-speaking. The actor who plays this role should be a dancer or have extensive movement experience.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s, 50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male, Non-binary
  • Burghley
    70s,
    Any race/ethnic identity
    ,
    he/him
    William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, the Queen's most-trusted advisor. 70s. He/him.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      50s, 60s, 70s+
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male, Non-binary
  • Essex
    25,
    Any race/ethnic identity
    ,
    he/him
    Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, The Queen's cousin, advisor, rival. Mid 20s. He/him.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male, Non-binary
  • Lady Scott
    20s,
    Any race/ethnic identity
    ,
    She/her
    The Queen's under-estimated Lady of the Bedchamber. 20s. She/her. Actor must double as MacNally.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • Conroy
    40s,
    Any race/ethnic identity
    ,
    he/him
    Grace's cautious and steady first mate. 40s. He/him. Actor doubles as Bingham.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s, 50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male, Non-binary
  • MacNally
    20s,
    Any race/ethnic identity
    ,
    he/him
    Grace's rowdy and reckless crewman. 20s. He/him. Actor must identify as female and double as Lady Scott.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • Bingham
    40s,
    Any race/ethnic identity
    ,
    he/him
    Sir Richard Bingham, the sadistic, small-minded English Governor of Connacht Province, which includes County Mayo, Ireland. 40s. He/him. Actor doubles as Conroy.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s, 50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male, Non-binary

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    The Depot for New Play Readings (Connecticut)
    ,
    2019
  • Workshop
    ,
    New World Theatre, Putting It Together New Play Readings (New Hampshire)
    ,
    2019
  • Reading
    ,
    AboutFACE Ireland - NEWvember New Play Festival (Dublin)
    ,
    2018

Production History

  • Community Theater
    ,
    New World Theatre (New Hampshire)
    ,
    2022

Awards

Finalist
,
Full-Length Play
,
Scriptwriters & Co.
,
2023
Finalist
,
Ashland New Plays Festival
,
2019
Winner
,
Stage Play Category
,
Moondance International Film Festival
,
2019