The world première of James Graham’s new play Labour of Love, will star Martin Freeman and Sarah Lancashire. Labour of Love sees the return of MGC to the West End following Photograph 51 and their acclaimed 2013/14 season, also at the Noel Coward Theatre, and for Headlong with the multi award-winning People Places and Things, 1984 and most recently James Graham’s This House.
This razor-sharp political comedy reunites James Graham and director Jeremy Herrin following their previous collaboration on Headlong’s This House, which was recently revived at the Garrick Theatre, following its earlier critically acclaimed run at the National Theatre. Labour of Love opens at the Noel Coward Theatre on 25 September, with previews from 15 September, and runs until 2 December.
MGC continue their commitment to offer over 20,000 tickets at £10 (including booking fee and restoration levy), which is 25% of the tickets for the entire run, across all levels of the auditorium. In addition, they will stage access performances – with both captioned and audio described performances.
Michael Grandage said today, “This wonderful new play by James Graham is the start of a body of work that MGC will be producing over the next two years as we continue our commitment to delivering quality theatre at affordable prices in the West End. For this first production, I am delighted Jeremy Herrin and Headlong, a company I have long admired, are joining us.”
Jeremy Herrin added, “I’m delighted to be working on such a funny and politically insightful play as Labour of Love, and it’s a privilege to continue my creative relationship with James Graham. It’s a real testament to his writing that it has attracted two perfectly matched actors, both at the height of their powers, as Martin Freeman and Sarah Lancashire. I loved working with Michael at the Donmar, and I’m really looking forward to Headlong and MGC teaming up to bring the best in contemporary theatre to the West End this autumn.”
Labour MP David Lyons cares about modernisation and “electability”… His constituency agent, Jean Whittaker cares about principles and her community. Set away from the Westminster bubble in the party’s traditional northern heartlands, this is a clash of philosophy, culture and class against the backdrop of the Labour Party over 25 years, as it moves from Kinnock through Blair into Corbyn… and beyond?
Labour of Love plays at the Noel Coward Theatre 15 September – 2 December 2017
