The Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury has revealed the full cast for its world premiere production of The Party Girls, a new play by Amy Rosenthal that explores the extraordinary lives of the Mitford sisters.
Directed by Richard Beecham, The Party Girls marks the first touring production from the Kent venue and opens at the Marlowe from 1–6 September, with a press night on Wednesday 3rd, before embarking on a UK tour.
The cast includes Kirsty Besterman as Nancy Mitford, Joe Coen as Bob Treuhaft, Elisabeth Dermot Walsh as Diana Mitford, Emma Noakes as Jessica Mitford, Ell Potter as Unity Mitford, and Flora Spencer-Longhurst as Debo Mitford.
The play offers a compelling portrait of the six Mitford sisters, whose lives were shaped by love, politics, and scandal in the shadow of rising fascism in pre-war Europe.
Marlowe Theatre Chief Executive Deborah Shaw said:
“When we first read The Party Girls by Amy Rosenthal we knew we had a majorly important, prescient play on our hands and I couldn’t be more delighted to launch Marlowe Theatre Productions with this world premiere.”
She added:
“Amy’s play captures the wit of Nancy Mitford’s novels and tells a cracking love story across continents, to a backdrop of the rise of extremism and dangerous populist leaders… The Party Girls, with its great shifts of history seen through a female lens could not be more resonant for our times.”
Director Richard Beecham commented:
“I’m thrilled to be directing the world premiere of Amy Rosenthal’s timely new play… Amy’s brilliant portrayal of the notorious Mitford sisters explores the present through the past, uncovers the political in the personal, and finds considerable humour amongst all the horror and heartache.”
The creative team includes Simon Kenny (design), Aideen Malone (lighting), Adrienne Quartly (composition and sound), Dick Straker (video), Quinny Sacks (movement), and Haruka Kuroda (fight direction). Casting is by Annelie Powell CDG.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
