London, the 1860s.
Rose Trelawny is the brightest young star at the Sadler's Wells Theatre. But she's prepared to give it all up for the love of her noble stage door suitor, Arthur Gower. Meanwhile, her colleague at the 'Wells', Tom Wrench, is writing a new kind of play for Rose to star in. And her friend, Imogen Parrott, hopes to take a theatre in which to produce it. Rose will be forced to choose between her two great loves.
Set amongst theatrical folk and the non-theatricals they seek to please and provoke, Trelawny of the 'Wells', by Arthur Wing Pinero, premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, London, in January 1898.
This version, with revisions and additions by Patrick Marber, premiered at the Donmar Warehouse, London, in February 2013.