27 – 31 January
A sparkling revival of Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s satire of love and language The Rivals will appear at the Theatre Royal Bath from Tuesday 27 to Saturday 31 January, starring Robert Bathurst and Patricia Hodge in this Orange Tree Theatre production.
Bath in the Roaring Twenties: risqué revelry, romance, and rivalry in the Assembly Rooms – a town torn between tradition and the new age.
Lydia and Jack are made for each other – but Lydia’s a rebel and Jack’s too posh to be her beau. What’s a chap to do? A little harmless deception, of course.
Meanwhile, Jack’s father, Anthony Absolute, is absolutely determined to be obeyed, and Lydia’s guardian Mrs Malaprop is seeking a love-affair of her own – if only she could find the right words…
The irascible Sir Anthony Absolute is Robert Bathurst (Cold Feet, Joking Apart) Alongside Patricia Hodge, one of our leading stage actors and widely known from Miranda and Rumpole of the Bailey, stars in the iconic role of Mrs Malaprop.
Joining Robert Bathurst (Anthony Absolute) and Patricia Hodge (Mrs Malaprop), the cast is completed by Pete Ashmore (Frederick Arnold Gieves), Joëlle Brabban (Lucy), Zoe Brough (Lydia Languish), Dylan Corbett-Bader (Bob Acres), Jim Findley (Thomas), Colm Gormley (Lucius O’Trigger), Robert Maskell (David), Boadicea Ricketts (Julia Melville), James Sheldon (‘Faulty’ Faulkland) and Kit Young (Jack Absolute).
Director Tom Littler said, “It’s a real pleasure to be working with this brilliant company on The Rivals. Each actor brings their own insight, energy, and creativity, and I’m excited to see how we’ll capture Sheridan’s humour and wit in the glamour and chaos of the Roaring Twenties.”
Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751-1816) was an Irish-born British playwright, theatre owner, and politician who became one of the most celebrated comic dramatists of the 18th century. His credits as a playwright also include St. Patrick’s Day, The Duenna, A Trip to Scarborough, The School for Scandal, The Critic, Pizarro, The Camp.
THE RIVALS appears at the Theatre Royal Bath from Tuesday 27 to Saturday 31 January. To book tickets visit the Theatre Royal Bath website at theatreroyal.org.uk or contact the Box Office on 01225 448844
Photography credit: Ellie Kurttz
