The Queen of Ireland by Natalie Sacks

The Palace of Placentia, Greenwich, England, 1593. Queen Elizabeth I receives an unusual petitioner: the Irish Pirate Queen Grace O'Malley, come to negotiate for the freedom of her son, who has been arrested by the English for treason. But from the second she walks in, it's clear that Grace isn't like any other subject Elizabeth has met before; this could even be the one woman who has the upper...
The Palace of Placentia, Greenwich, England, 1593. Queen Elizabeth I receives an unusual petitioner: the Irish Pirate Queen Grace O'Malley, come to negotiate for the freedom of her son, who has been arrested by the English for treason. But from the second she walks in, it's clear that Grace isn't like any other subject Elizabeth has met before; this could even be the one woman who has the upper hand over the Queen of England. Who could win this battle of wills?
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The Queen of Ireland

Recommended by

  • Vivian Lermond:
    8 Jan. 2022
    “ The ability to weave historical facts and fiction is an art, and Sacks delivers. As someone who is familiar with the history of 16th century feminist Grainne Ni Mhaille (Grace O'Malley) and the historical record of her talking her way out of being beheaded by Queen Elizabeth 1, this is one fantastic re-imagining of that encounter. Loved it! ”

Character Information

The women in this play were in their sixties during the encounter that this piece was based off of. While they can be played by women of any age, casting women in their sixties or older is particularly encouraged.

  • Queen Elizabeth I
    30s-70s,
    Presents Female
    Regal, of course, but also clever, playful and calculating, all at once.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s+
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • Grace O'Malley
    30s-70s,
    Presents Female
    Cocky and self-assured in the most unlikely of circumstances, but cleverer than she seems.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s+
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary

Production History

  • Workshop
    ,
    Turn to Flesh Productions
    ,
    2019