THE WHIP

About the show

Directed by Kimberley Sykes, this compelling new play asked what is the right thing to do, and how much must it cost? As the 19th Century dawns, politicians of all political persuasions gather in London to abolish the slave trade once and for all. But will the price of freedom turn out to be a multi-billion pound pay off to the slave owners? Even though such a bailout could drive the country into economic and political ruin? As morality and corruption clash in a world of men thirsty for power, two women forge an unlikely union and fight their way to the seat of political influence, challenging Members of Parliament who dare deny them their say. In this provocative play, directed by Kimberley Sykes (Dido, Queen of Carthage, 2017; As You Like It, 2019), the personal collides with the political to ask what is the right thing to do and how much must it cost? The play premiered in the Swan Theatre in February 2020 but closed unexpectedly in March 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic struck. In October 2020, the RSC released an audio drama based on the stage production and featuring the original cast. Juliet Gilkes Romero received The 2020 Alfred Fagan Award for The Whip.