Review | Handbagged | The Lowry | 18/03/2025

Have you ever imagined what might have unfolded behind closed doors at the Palace during one of Margaret Thatcher's and Queen Elizabeth II's regular meetings? The idea alone, with both characters being so vastly different, is fascinating and is the basis for Handbagged.

The play features two pairs of actresses simultaneously portraying the iconic women in both their younger and more mature years. While this approach could have been confusing, it worked brilliantly on stage. This technique allowed the audience to not only hear the characters' spoken words but also gain insight into their inner thoughts at various moments.

Billed as a comedy, Handbagged felt more of a pleasant yet uninspiring watch than anything else. While there were a few titters from those who had lived through the Thatcher years, younger audience members often seemed left behind. Whether or not you’re familiar with the characters shouldn’t affect your ability to enjoy the humour; however, this sadly seems the case here. Much of the more accessible humour feels repetitive, with third-wall-breaking jokes regarding characters playing multiple roles being used excessively .

The performances themselves are strong, with the Queen’s stoic demeanour and Thatcher’s commanding presence both portrayed effectively. However, it’s a shame that the script doesn’t allow for more depth, leaving the characters feeling more like caricatures. In reality, both women were highly complex, which is what makes the premise of the show so interesting, but this was disappointingly never truly explored. The material might have been more effective as a shorter one-act show, as was the original production. If it is going to be stretched into a full two-act performance, it really needs to build toward something or have something meaningful to say.

Through the lens of imagined conversations, this play could have really educated people on 1980s Britain whilst remaining a comedy; ultimately, it failed to deliver fully on either. Moments of promise appear when a character questions why certain events aren’t being discussed, but these conversations don’t lead anywhere, and as an audience member, I found myself agreeing with the characters’ frustrations.

Handbagged plays at The Lowry until Saturday 22 March 2025, see below for booking details.

Click here for booking details