Two of Britain’s best-known historians will examine one of the most controversial episodes in British royal history when To Kill A Queen comes to G Live in Guildford on Wednesday 23 September 2026.
Professors Suzannah Lipscomb and Kate Williams will explore the relationship between Mary, Queen of Scots and Elizabeth I, questioning the traditional portrayal of the two monarchs as personal enemies.
Mary and Elizabeth were cousins and rival queens whose reigns were shaped by religious division, political unrest and threats to their power. Mary was imprisoned in England by Elizabeth for almost 19 years before being executed at Fotheringhay Castle in 1587, following her alleged involvement in a plot against the English queen.
To Kill A Queen begins with Mary’s execution and works backwards through the political intrigue that led to it. The performance combines historical lecture and theatrical storytelling, examining events including the Babington Plot, William Cecil’s intelligence networks and the use of coded correspondence.
Lipscomb and Williams also consider how historical accounts have interpreted the two women and the pressures they faced as female rulers in a male-dominated political system. The production argues that the queens’ decisions should be viewed in the context of political survival and leadership, rather than solely as a personal conflict.
The historians draw on historical research to examine the decisions surrounding Mary’s imprisonment and execution, as well as Elizabeth’s eventual authorisation of her cousin’s death warrant.
The Guildford performance also has a personal connection for Lipscomb, who grew up in Surrey.
“Surrey is where I grew up, so it will feel like coming home,” she said.
Lipscomb is an award-winning historian and broadcaster and presents Not Just the Tudors. Williams is Professor of Modern History at the University of Reading and has worked as a royal historian for CNN, alongside television appearances for BBC, ITV and Channel 5.
The event takes place at G Live, Guildford, GU1 2AA, at 7.30pm on Wednesday 23 September 2026.
Event: To Kill A Queen
Venue: G Live, Guildford, GU1 2AA
Date: Wednesday 23 September
Time: 7.30pm
Tickets available HERE
Theatre, art, music and culture feature in Premier Magazine’s multi-page ‘events’ guide each edition. Browse the latest edition HERE. A monthly round-up is also available inbetween editions ONLINE.
