The mystery surrounding the case of the lady who claimed to be the surviving daughter Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia of the executed Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna, who was the last sovereign of Imperial Russia.

Anna Anderson claimed to be Anastasia for over thirty years. The Anastasia File follows the story of Anna, played by  Jenny Seagrove. She states many times that she knows who she is and isn’t interested in the money.

Simon Shepherd plays the long-standing police officer trying to get to the bottom of the mystery. They become friends as time passes  and offer support and kindness and build up her case and evidence about her true identity.

The play presents the evidence available in a courtroom style dialogue at times. Anna bombarded by questions by everyone she meets who are trying to find holes in her timeline or misquoted family facts. Of which there appear to be none.

The cast of four is excellent joining Seagrove and Shepherd are Ashley D. Gayle and Rosie Thomson. All of these accept Seagrove play multiple characters from medical staff to family members of the late Tsar and other officials involved in her story.

The storyline draws you throughout the play. Seagrove delivers all the evidence through a compassionate portrayal of Anna. Was she or wasn’t she the real Anastasia. From many reports, she was fake. However, the details about all the direct and in direct family and her physical damage that she endured might suggest otherwise.

It’s a powerful and engaging play directed by Roy Marsden that leaves as many questions unanswered as it answers. I am still undecided whether this lady was a fake or not. Based on the amount of money involved left in an English bank vault by the Tsar, that would have had the potential to leave them bankrupt! There are plenty of reasons to disprove her true identity, perhaps? That’s up to you to decide.

For more information about The Anastasia File and future productions at The Salisbury Playhouse, please use the link below.

Five Stars.

https://www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk/whats-on

Running from 6th – Sat 10th Oct 2026.