Synopsis

A series of spaces in 18th-century London, from opulent drawing rooms to squalid streets, reflecting the stark contrasts of a society on the brink of upheaval.

Mary Traverse, a young woman stifled by the constraints of her privileged upbringing, embarks on a journey of discovery that takes her from the sheltered world of her father’s house to the chaotic underbelly of London society. Guided by the enigmatic Mrs Temptwell, Mary’s pursuit of knowledge and experience leads her through a labyrinth of political intrigue, sexual exploration, and social unrest.

Wertenbaker’s play is a provocative exploration of power, gender, and the limits of personal freedom in a rigidly structured society. Through Mary’s transformation from naive ingénue to political agitator, The Grace of Mary Traverse challenges conventional notions of morality and questions the price of ambition.