Cast announced for national tour of Mike Leigh’s cult-classic ABIGAIL’S PARTY

A sparkling new production of Mike Leigh’s cult-classic comedy Abigail’s Party will premiere at Northern Stage from 13–28 September ahead of touring.

Jack Bradfield, winner of the prestigious RTST Sir Peter Hall Director Award presented by Sir Ian McKellen, will bring a fresh new perspective to Leigh's ground-breaking play which garnered cult status following the 1977 BBC TV Play for Today, starring Alison Steadman.

Jack Bradfield said: "I’m thrilled to be reviving Mike Leigh's savage suburban comedy. We're ratcheting up the awkward, the inappropriate, the unbearable and the plain strange, and staging the play in a whole new way. At Northern Stage and across the country, our incredible cast and creative team are going to light a fire under this classic and bring it bright and burning into 2024."

Laura Rogers (The Ocean at the End of the Lane, West End) will play self-appointed queen of suburbia, Beverly, who is hosting a cocktail party for her new neighbours. Next door, 15-year-old Abigail is throwing a party of her own. No one can stop talking about Abigail's party. No one can stop thinking about Abigail's Party. Something must be done about Abigail’s party.

Leander Deeny (Wuthering Heights, China Plate) will play Beverly’s husband Laurence, with Chaya Gupta (The Government Inspector, Marylebone Theatre) and Joe Blakemore (The Hunt for Raoul Moat, ITV) as their working-class neighbours Angela and Tony, and Amy Rockson (Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, Shondaland & Netflix) as next door neighbour Susan, mother of the eponymous Abigail.

Designer Anna Yates will create a visually stunning set inspired by the original cast’s visit to the Ideal Home Show exhibition as part of the devising process. Designed to transport audiences to 1977 without becoming caricatured or cliched, the production will have a contemporary feel, opening the play up and showing it from a new angle. The creative team also includes sound designer Jamie Lu, movement director Rachel Birch Lawson, and casting director Annelie Powell.

Following its runs at Northern Stage in Newcastle, the production will visit Mercury Theatre Colchester (2-12 October), Blackpool Grand (22-26 October) and Rose Theatre (5-16 November).

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