Tickets coming soon
  • Running time 2 hours and 25 minutes (including interval)
  • Age guidelines 14+

Get tickets to The Last Stand of Mrs Mary Whitehouse

Don’t miss sharp new comedy drama The Last Stand of Mrs Mary Whitehouse, shining a light on the riddle of Mary Whitehouse: was she a prudish busybody, or truly “the most dangerous woman in Britain”?

In the turbulent 1970s, a grandmother with a typewriter in her back garden sparked a nationwide culture war. Convinced the country was slipping into moral chaos, she squared up to the BBC and the so-called “godless media,” wielding an influence that shocked many.

Inspired by real events, acclaimed playwright Caroline Bird focuses on Whitehouse’s most notorious confrontation in her hit new play – the blasphemy trial against Gay News, a case that exposed the extraordinary clout hidden behind her polite exterior. The play asks urgent questions about censorship, faith, freedom, and one woman’s determination to hold back the tide.

An extraordinary cast features Maxine Peake (Dinnerladies, Shameless, Silk, The Village) as Mary Whitehouse, with Samuel Barnett (The History Boys, Ben & Imo) transforming into more than 15 different characters, from Whitehouse’s own mother to Margaret Thatcher, Jesus, a Roman centurion, and a documentary filmmaker!

The Last Stand of Mrs Mary Whitehouse recently played at the Nottingham Playhouse. There’s no current news about a West End or London transfer for the play, but check back for details or sign-up for alerts.

Sign-up to be the first to hear about tickets for The Last Stand of Mrs Mary Whitehouse and other shows & ticket offers with our email alerts:

Videos & Photos

Stars and Creatives

Who is in the cast of The Last Stand of Mrs Mary Whitehouse?

  • Maxine Peake as Mary Whitehouse
  • Samuel Barnett as Everyone Else

Who are the creative team of The Last Stand of Mrs Mary Whitehouse?

  • Written by Caroline Bird
  • Directed by Sarah Frankcom
  • Set and costume designer Peter Butler
  • Lighting designer Malcolm Rippeth
  • Sound designer Annie May Fletcher
  • Voice and dialect coach Liz Flint
  • Wigs, Hair & Makeup Helen Keane for Campbell Young Associates
  • Movement Director Jennifer Jackson
  • C-commissioned by Nottingham Playhouse, Eleanor Lloyd Productions and Kate Pakenham Productions

Important Notes

Content warnings: This show contains haze, fast flashing lights, graphic sexual language, homophobia and references to suicide, death, and the death of a child. Religious imagery is used in a way some may find offensive.

Venue Information

, , ,

Nearest Tube or Train:

Nearest Buses:

Directions

Google Apple

Critics' reviews of The Last Stand of Mrs Mary Whitehouse

★★★★★ “Superbly performed, incredibly powerful and thought-provoking" - What's On Stage

★★★★★ “Maxine Peake as Mary Whitehouse is perfection” - East Midlands Theatre

★★★★ “Deft and witty" - The Guardian

★★★★ “Peake's multi-faceted performance is terrific: spirited, impish, self possessed.... Perfect" - The Telegraph

★★★★ “Samuel Barnett - deliciously chameleonic" - The Stage

Frequently Asked Questions

The running time of The Last Stand of Mrs Mary Whitehouse is 2 hours and 25 minutes (including interval)
The age recommendations for The Last Stand of Mrs Mary Whitehouse are: 14+
Yes, The Last Stand of Mrs Mary Whitehouse has matinee performances on the following days:
Tickets for The Last Stand of Mrs Mary Whitehouse are not currently on sale. Please check back for updates, or sign-up for our email alerts.

More Great Shows

See all