Handbagged Is A Royal Riot

Moira Buffini's Handbagged is a sharp and witty insight into the speculative conversations between Margaret Thatcher and Queen Elizabeth II. Playing at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry until Saturday 10 October, it is a show not to be missed.

The playful script allows the fourth wall to be regularly broken and provides much hilarity throughout. Wonderful one-liners are delivered masterfully by Susie Blake, who shines in the role of Q. She is deftly matched with Kate Fahy playing the dour T.

The audience are invited into their conversations as a young 'Liz' (played brilliantly by Emma Handy) and 'Mags' (superbly played by Sanchia McCormack) meet at Buckingham Palace for the first time. As you are drawn into their world, Q and T comically interject adding sprinklings of humour throughout.

The pace of the play is further aided by the addition of Actor 1 and Actor 2, played respectively by Asif Khan and Richard Teverson. As both actors fill in the gaps, they take on a plethora of roles from Reagan to Kinnock. Both have the audience rocking with laughter, especially when Khan takes to the stage as Nancy Reagan.

The staging designed by Richard Kent is simple, yet effective, leaving the writing and acting to dazzle. Matched with excellent directing from Indhu Rubasingham, Handbagged is a royal riot!