To Kill a Queen: Elizabeth I, Mary Queens of Scots and the Politics of Survival

Suzannah Lipscomb and Kate Williams are back at the Royal Hall on Thursday 1 April 2027, with To Kill a Queen: Elizabeth I, Mary Queen of Scots and the Politics of Survival. It's a live show that works backwards from the fall of the axe at Fotheringhay Castle, tracing the chain of events and decisions that led Elizabeth I to sign her cousin's death warrant.

Lipscomb and Williams are both historians, and they've built this one around the latest research. They cover the espionage, treason and gender politics of the Tudor world, from William Cecil's spy networks to Mary's defiant embroideries and the Babington Plot. Along the way, they challenge the way male historians have long pitted the two women against each other, reframing their choices as acts of courage and consequence rather than just a rivalry. It's a bit of a reversal of the usual way this story is told, starting with the end and working your way back to see how it all came to that.

This follows their 2026 tour, so they're returning to the stage with a show they've already been taking on the road. Harrogate is one of several stops on the tour, which also visits Richmond Theatre, Tyne Theatre & Opera House in Newcastle and Cadogan Hall in London. The show is recommended for ages 14 and over.

It starts at 7:30pm at the Royal Hall, part of the Harrogate Convention Centre on Ripon Road. Tickets are Band B £46.50 and Band C £42.50, both including fees.