Edinburgh Graduate Theatre Group will kick off a busy year of productions with their long-awaited performance of Noel Coward’s classic comedy of manners, Hay Fever. The production was originally due to be performed in March 2020, and will now run at Assembly Roxy in the Upstairs Theatre Wednesday 18 – Saturday 21 May.
Meet the wealthy, self-obsessed and eccentric Bliss family: grande dame of the stage and mother Judith, novelist and father David, and their two children Sorel and Simon. Each has invited a guest to spend the weekend at their country house in rural England – and each has neglected to tell the others. Needless to say friction and hilarity ensue in this classic British comedy of manners.
Inspired by Coward’s acquaintance with silent film star Laurette Taylor, Hay Fever has been popular with audiences since its premiere in 1925, remaining relevant with its astute observations of family life and human folly.
Director Martin Foreman (The Rose and Crown, Volpone) says this bringing the play to a new Twenties audience:
“After two years of Covid and with the clouds of war, economic difficulties and climate change hanging over our future I want to present a play that is purely entertainment. At the same time, I like a challenge. Noel Coward’s work is deceptively easy but the comedy depends on razor-sharp performances which create strong, distinctive characters and the passionate, embarrassing and combative situations that arise. My role as director has been made easy by the very talented cast and I am confident that The Master, as Coward was known, would approve.”
Over sixty years EGTG has earned a reputation for attracting some of Edinburgh’s best acting talent. With Hay Fever the company is delighted to introduce newcomers Joseph Cathal, Gregor Dickie and Lois Williams; as well as familiar faces Wendy Brindle, Grace Gilbert, Oliver Cookson, Angela Harkness Robertson, Laurence Wareing and Beverley Wright.
Hay Fever will run Wednesday 18 – Saturday 21 May, 7:30pm at Assembly Roxy, Upstairs.
