22 – 27 June
ABIGAIL’S PARTY to visit Bath as part of UK tour prior to West End transfer, starring Tamzin Outhwaite and Kevin Bishop.
Theatre Royal Bath Productions present the Stratford East production of Abigail’s Party, Mike Leigh’s ferocious black comedy of suburban life in the 1970s.
Essex, 1977. Beverly is hosting, the alcohol is flowing, Demis Roussos is on the record player and the cheese and pineapple cocktail sticks are ready to go. Queen of the castle in her suburban semi, Beverly and husband Laurence welcome new neighbours Angela and Tony round for drinks. Sue from next door is invited too but the real party is happening back at her place, as Sue’s teenage daughter Abigail can’t seem to keep the racket down. Awkward small talk quickly descends into inappropriate flirtation and marital disputes: a soiree from hell, but it’d be rude to leave…
Mike Leigh’s razor-sharp portrait of social class, materialism and sexual tension in 1970s England is an unmissable modern classic. Developed through extended improvisations with the original cast, including Alison Steadman in a career launching role as Beverly, Abigail’s Party premiered at London’s Hampstead Theatre in 1977, before being recorded and televised on the BBC’s Play for Today. It has regularly been revived on stage in the decades since.
Tamzin Outhwaite returning to the Theatre Royal stage after previous appearances in Grease (1990) and Stepping Out (2016), and Kevin Bishop lead the cast in this revival. Tamzin Outhwaite is much-loved from her television roles including EastEnders, Red Cap, Hotel Babylon and New Tricks, as one of the most iconic characters in British theatre – the unforgettable Beverly. Kevin Bishop is known for many roles in film and television including The Kevin Bishop Show, (which he also co-wrote), Muppet Treasure Island, the British Comedy Award winning Star Stories and the 2016 revival of Porridge, as Laurence. The cast is completed by Pandora Colin as Sue, Omar Malik as Tony and Lauren Patel as Angela.
Directed by Nadia Fall, the production will appear at Bath’s Theatre Royal from Monday 22 to Saturday 27 June as part of a national UK tour, before transferring to the West End where the production will play a limited season at the Harold Pinter Theatre.
The world class creative team is completed by Set and Costume Designer Peter McKintosh, Lighting Designer Howard Harrison, Sound Designer Alexandra Faye Braithwaite, Movement Director James Cousin and Casting Director Amy Ball CDG.
ABIGAIL’S PARTY appears at the Theatre Royal Bath from Monday 22 to Saturday 27 June. For tickets visit the Theatre Royal Bath website at theatreroyal.org.uk or contact the Box Office on 01225 448844
Photography credit: Mark Senior
