Direct from a highly celebrated extended season in London’s West End, casting has been announced for Bill Kenwright’s production of Alan Ayckbourn’s farcical tale of matrimonial mishaps, How the Other Half Loves as it gets set thrill audiences across the UK this autumn.
The 1969 classic and the first of Ayckbourn’s plays to be staged on Broadway, will open at Theatre Royal Windsor on Wednesday 30th August, continuing to Salford, Glasgow, Malvern, Bath, York, Richmond, Guildford, Cheltenham, Brighton and Norwich.
The star cast includes leading stage and TV actor ROBERT DAWS as ‘Frank Foster’, best known for the hit series’ The Royal, Outside Edge and Roger Roger opposite CAROLINE LANGRISHE as ‘Fiona Foster’ who starred in Lovejoy, Holby City and Judge John Deed. CHARLIE BROOKS, much-loved for her portrayal of EastEnders’ Janine Butcher performs as ‘Teresa Philips’ with LEON OCKENDEN, best-known for his role as Coronation Street’s Will Chatterton as ‘Bob Philips’.
Completing the couples are MATTHEW COTTLE who reprises his critically acclaimed West End performance as William Featherstone, best known for the BAFTA-nominated Game On. Alongside him will be SARA CROWE as ‘Mary Featherstone’, who’s West End credits include Alan Ayckbourn’s Absurd Person Singular and The Constant Wife but perhaps is best known for her role in the popular film Four Weddings and a Funeral.
As Bob and Fiona clumsily try to cover up their affair, their spouses’ intervention only adds to the confusion. William and Mary Featherstone become stuck in the middle, falsely accused of adultery and with no idea as to how they’ve become involved. The plot culminates in two disastrous dinner parties on successive nights, shown at the same time, after which the futures of all three couples seem in jeopardy…
At turns heart-wrenching and hilarious, Ayckbourn’s tale of social graces and personal misunderstanding remains one of the celebrated writer’s most famous comedies.
An extraordinary success on opening in the West End in 1970 at the Lyric Theatre, How the Other Half Loves ran for a staggering 869 performances, delighting critics and audiences alike. Fondly loved and considered one of Ayckbourn’s most popular plays; How the Other Half Loves received its first major West End revival in 2016, where it once again thrilled audiences. Originally opening at the Theatre Royal Haymarket followed by an extended run at the Duke of York’s, it will now be delighting audiences across the UK.
REVIEW: HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES (Duke Of York’s Theatre) ★★★★
HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES – UK AUTUMN TOUR 2017
Wednesday 30 August – Saturday 9 September
Theatre Royal, Windsor
www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk
Monday 11 – Saturday 16 September
Salford, The Lowry
www.thelowry.com
Monday 18 – Saturday 23 September
Theatre Royal, Glasgow
www.atgtickets.com/glasgow
Monday 25 – Saturday 30 September
Malvern Theatre
www.malvern-theatres.co.uk
Monday 2 – Saturday 7 October
Theatre Royal, Bath
www.theatreroyal.org.uk
Monday 9 – Saturday 14 October
Grand Opera House, York
www.atgtickets.com/richmond
Monday 16 – Saturday 21 October
Richmond Theatre,
www.atgtickets.com/richmond
Monday 23 – Saturday 28 October
Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford
www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk
Monday 6 – Saturday 11 November
Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham
www.everymantheatre.org.uk
Monday 20 – Saturday 25 November
Theatre Royal, Brighton
www.atgtickets.com/brighton
Monday 27 November – Saturday 2 December
Theatre Royal, Norwich
www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk
