Brand new images of Mike Leigh’s cult classic Abigail’s Party have been released today. Set down the road from the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch in ‘theoretical Romford’, this delicious 70s comedy – notorious for its references to cheesy-pineapple and Demis Roussos – is directed by the Queen’s Theatre artistic director Douglas Rintoul. The production began performances on 30 August at the Queen’s Theatre and will tour to Derby Theatre (26 Sept – 20 Oct), Salisbury Playhouse (30 Oct – 17 Nov) and Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg (27 – 29 Nov).
Abigail’s Party is widely considered a classic of 20th-century British drama for its tragi-comedy and acute satire on the class-consciousness and social climbing of 1970s Britain. It was made famous by the BBC’s Play for Today starring Alison Steadman, which was seen by 16 million viewers.
Playing the gauche, aspirational hostess Beverly is Melanie Gutteridge who is best known for her roles as PC Emma Keane inThe 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 (Eastender’s Danny Mitchell, The Marriage of Figaro, Watermill Theatre) as Tony, Amy Downham (Common, National Theatre) as Angela, Susie Emmett (Inherit The Wind, New Vic Theatre) as Susan and Christopher Staines (Wolf Hall, BBC and Our Town, Almeida) as Laurence.
