Casting has been announced for the upcoming east of England tour of James’ McDermott’s East Anglian relocation of the hit Canadian comedy The Birds and the Bees by Mark Crawford.

The production, which will star Laura Doddington, Richard McIver, Louise Gold and Sion Tudor Owen, marks the first professional UK production of any version of this play. It tells the story of Sarah, whose honeybees are dropping like flies just like her love life, her daughter Gail whose marriage is going up in smoke just like her farm and their neighbour Earl who is fighting a losing battle with his farm and his string of meaningless relationships. When bio-student Ben turns up to help them all with their struggling farms, can he also help their relationships? 

The show will be directed by the New Wolsey Theatre’s artistic director Peter Rowe. 

Writer Mark Crawford said: ‘I’m very excited for The Birds and the Bees to have its UK premiere this spring. This production transplants the play from rural Canada to East Anglia. An ocean divides us, but there’s so much we have in common – turkey farming, bee colony collapse, and a love of characters running round in their knickers. I can’t wait for audiences to experience this new version of the play set closer to home. No matter where it takes place, some things are universal: sex is funny, families are complicated, and despite our best intentions, things don’t go according to plan’ 

The Birds and the Bees runs at the New Wolsey Theatre from 25 March to 9 April, before visiting Norwich Theatre from 20-30 April and Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds from 3-7 May.