REVIEW - BY ROYAL APPOINTMENT | THE LOWRY | 06/08/2025

By Royal Appointment at The Lowry – A Warm and Witty Tale Sewn with Heart

Setting the Scene: A Royal Comedy Begins

Daisy Goodwin, best known for penning ITV’s Victoria, makes her stage debut with By Royal Appointment—a charming and quietly reflective new play centred not on political power or scandal, but on the quiet dignity, devotion, and design behind Queen Elizabeth II’s most iconic outfits. Directed by Dominic Dromgoole and starring an impressive cast led by Caroline Quentin and Anne Reid, the production invites us into the intimate world of the royal dressing room, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the figures who helped shape Her Majesty’s public image—through hats, hemlines, and unspoken messages.

A Page-Turner Onstage: What’s the Story?

The story opens just after the Queen’s funeral, where a loyal and sharp-tongued Dresser (played by Caroline Quentin) is approached by a young, somewhat bumbling Curator with a request: help curate an immersive exhibition on the Queen’s wardrobe. From there, the play rewinds through key years of Her Majesty’s reign, spotlighting milestone moments—Charles’s investiture, the visit to Ireland, Lord Mountbatten’s funeral—through the lens of what she wore and why. Each scene peels back the layers on what her clothing signified to the world, and how these choices were carefully crafted by the team who knew her best. It's a gentle, vignette-style piece laced with humour, grief, and warm nostalgia, more interested in affection than provocation.

Fit for a Queen: Set, Style & Stage Design

Designer Jonathan Fensom delivers a simple but elegant set, evoking the unseen royal residences with muted tones and regal drapery. The whole play takes place in a single room, but clever lighting shifts and projected imagery of real royal outfits help the audience traverse decades without ever leaving the palace walls. While some of the projections were difficult to make out from certain angles, their inclusion was still a thoughtful nod to the historical inspiration behind each costume.

The costumes themselves are the real visual stars—richly detailed, lovingly recreated, and impeccably styled. From bright brights to brooch-laden coats, the Queen’s fashion is given the full theatrical treatment, making this as much a costume drama as a character study. Scene transitions are underscored with brief music cues and cultural references, giving added colour to the decade shifts.

Stealing the Spotlight: The Cast Take the Crown

Caroline Quentin is superb as The Dresser—prickly, proud, and utterly devoted. With sharp comic timing and real emotional depth, she moves seamlessly between deadpan one-liners and vulnerable monologues. It’s a measured, nuanced performance that anchors the entire play.

Anne Reid, meanwhile, is a revelation as Queen Elizabeth II. At 90 years old, she’s commanding, poised, and remarkably authentic in her portrayal. She captures the Queen’s essence—graceful, reserved, and quietly witty. Her performance is both touching and understated, grounding the production with a quiet strength that perfectly complements the more comedic energy around her.

At this performance, The Milliner was played by understudy Jeremy Drakes, who stepped in seamlessly. His portrayal was wonderfully theatrical, filled with flamboyance and sharp comic timing. His chemistry with James Wilby as The Designer was a delight—Wilby bringing polish, elegance, and emotional depth to his role as the perfectionist courtier with a strained personal past.

Gráinne Dromgoole as the Curator acts as our narrator, stepping in between scenes to set the historical context. While her interjections occasionally disrupted the flow, they served their purpose well—anchoring the play’s timeline and sparking plenty of laughter with nostalgic nods to news, music, and culture.

A Crown-Worthy Night Out: Final Thoughts

By Royal Appointment is a quietly powerful, richly enjoyable piece of theatre. It doesn’t shout to be heard—it speaks with warmth, wit, and reverence for a woman whose clothing spoke volumes. It is a gently funny and deeply affectionate tribute—not just to Queen Elizabeth II, but to the quiet figures behind her public image who shaped a legacy in silk, sequins, and symbolism. While there are moments where the pacing lags and the narrator’s role feels a touch clunky, Daisy Goodwin’s debut is nonetheless a heartfelt and intelligent piece with strong performances and a unique perspective. It might not rewrite the history books, but it certainly reminds us how much meaning can be sewn into a single stitch.

A warm, witty royal wardrobe romp—By Royal Appointment is a right royal treat.

A fitting tribute stitched with style and sentiment—this royal wardrobe has plenty of heart beneath the hem.

By Royal Appointment  is at The Lowry until Saturday 9th August 2025. Tickets are available for purchase through the link provided below.

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Photo Credit - Nobby Clark.

*Our tickets for this show were kindly gifted in exchange for an honest review.