Cathy Courtney, one of the key people behind Vanbrugh300, persuaded the National Portrait Gallery to host an event scripted by Cathy in which Vanbrugh, played by Stephen Boxer, discusses the plans for Blenheim with Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, played by Harriet Walter.  Initially in a way they are semi-amicable, but degenerate into open warfare, with the Duchess annotating Vanbrugh’s letters with rude comments.

It was a great pleasure, and very revealing, hearing both sides of the story, as it were, live, because they both wrote with such vigour and such utter contempt for each other’s point of view.  Vanbrugh’s side of the story is relatively familiar, so it was good to get Sarah’s as well.