The original play by André Josset was first performed on 19 October 1935 at the Théâtre du Vieux-Colombier, Paris, with Germaine Dermoz (Elizabeth), Jacques Erwin (Essex), Jean Fleur (Lord Burghley), René Rocher (Robert Cecil), Paul Oettly (Francis Bacon), Jean Vernier (Anthony Bacon), Marie Reinhardt (Mary Howard).