A Derby Theatre, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, Wiltshire Creative and Les Théatres de la Ville de Luxembourg production ABIGAIL’S PARTY By Mike Leigh

Derby Theatre Wednesday 26 September to Saturday 20 October

Casting announced for revival of cult classic Abigail’s Party

Derby Theatre is thrilled to announce the cast for their big production for the autumn season, Mike Leigh’s cult classic, Abigail’s Party, a co-production with Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, Wiltshire Creative and Les Théatres de la Ville de Luxembourg.

Abigail’s Party will open at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and run from Friday 30 August until Saturday 22 September before embarking on a run at Derby Theatre from Wednesday 26 September until Saturday 20 October and then on to Salisbury Playhouse (Tuesday 30 October – Saturday 17 November) and then finishing the tour at Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg (from Tuesday 27 until Thursday 29 November).

Playing the socially awkward, aspirational hostess Beverly is Melanie Gutteridge. She is best known for her roles as PC Emma Keane in The Bill and Amy in Not Going Out. Her recent credits include the British-American horror film The Watcher in the Woods (directed by Melissa Joan Hart) and on stage in Roaring Trade at the Park Theatre.

She will be joined by Liam Bergin (Danny Mitchell in EastEnders), Amy Downham (Jen Gilmore in Hollyoaks), Susie Emmett (she performed opposite Richard E Grant in the film The Man Who Married Himself) and Christopher Staines (Hamlet, National Theatre) as Laurence.

According to Leigh, this delicious 70s comedy that cracks open social climbing suburbia was set in theoretical Romford and is notorious for its references to cheesy-pineapple and Demis Roussos. Made famous by the BBC Play for Today starring Alison Steadman, which was seen by 16 million viewers, audiences will not want to miss this great night out at the drinks party from hell!

This production is directed by the Queen’s Theatre’s Artistic Director Douglas Rintoul (Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Rope, Made in Dagenham) and co-produced with Derby Theatre, Wiltshire Creative and Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg.

Derby Theatre and the Queens Theatre have also commissioned a brand new play, Abi, a contemporary response to Abigail’s Party. Abi is part of Derby Theatre’s RETOLD series and is written by one of Britain’s most exciting new writers, Atiha Sen Gupta (Skins, Holby City).

RETOLD is a series of new one-woman plays commissioned by Derby Theatre. It stars Safiyya Ingar (LAVA, Nottingham Playhouse; Growth UK Tour, Paines Plough) and is directed by Sarah Brigham, Derby Theatre’s Artistic Director. Abi runs at the Queen’s Theatre from Tuesday 4 – Saturday 22 September and at Derby Theatre from Saturday 29 September until Saturday 20 October. See Abigail’s Party and Abi as a double bill… When you purchase tickets for Abigail’s Party, you can acquire a half price ticket to see Abi. Tickets for Abigail’s Party are £15.50 – £26.50 with concessions available and tickets for Abi are £10 (£8 concessions). For more information and to book tickets call the Box Office on 01332 593939 or online at http://www.derbytheatre.co.uk

Abigail’s Party is recommended for ages 11+ and Abi is recommended for ages 14+.

Access performances For Abigail’s Party: there will be an audio described performance on Friday 12 Oct at 7pm and Wednesday 17 October at 1.30pm and a BSL interpreted performance on Friday 5 October at 7pm.

For Abi: there will be an audio described performance on Friday 12 October at 9.30pm and on Wednesday 17 October at 4pm and a BSL interpreted performance on Friday 5 October at 9.30pm.

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