The full cast has been announced for Noël Coward’s Hay Fever, which will open at Wyndham’s Theatre this autumn for a strictly limited West End run.
Joining the previously announced two-time Tony Award-winning Christine Baranski as Judith Bliss and Academy Award nominee Richard E. Grant as David Bliss are Nancy Carroll as Myra Arundel, Will Close as Simon Bliss, Charles Edwards as Richard Greatham, Ophelia Lovibond as Sorel Bliss, Ash Hunter as Sandy Tyrell, Lucy Karczewski as Jackie Coryton and Jo McInnes as Clara.
The cast is completed by Helena Antoniou, Charlotte Avery and Shaun Mendum.
Directed by Emily Burns, Hay Fever runs at Wyndham’s Theatre from 22 September to 12 December 2026, with a press night scheduled for 1 October. Producers Wessex Grove and Gavin Kalin Productions have also announced the release of additional tickets, with prices starting from £30.
First staged in 1925, Coward’s comedy follows the eccentric Bliss family as their plans for a quiet weekend descend into chaos when each family member unexpectedly invites a guest to stay.
The production synopsis reads: “It’s LOATHSOME being looked after.” Last year, Judith retired from her life-on-stage. Already, she misses the applause. Idling away at their country home, the rest of the family – reclusive novelist husband David and failure-to-launch children Sorrel and Simon – are too self-involved to be a good audience.
The synopsis continues: “So, Judith invites a young fan as her guest for the weekend. But unbeknownst to her, each of the Blisses have a guest of their own arriving at the very same time. Completely unsuited to hosting and allergic to compromise, the house quickly erupts into a chaos of parlour games, put-downs and unrequested encores.”
The creative team includes set and costume designer Frankie Bradshaw, lighting designer Oliver Fenwick and sound designer Tingying Dong. Bethan Clark serves as fight and intimacy director, Danièle Lydon is dialect coach, Blythe Stewart is associate director, and casting is by Jim Carnahan CSA and Liz Fraser CSA.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
