Casting has been announced for Theatre Royal Bath Productions and Augusta Productions’ new staging of Noël Coward’s celebrated comedy Present Laughter, opening at Theatre Royal Bath from 27 August to 5 September 2026 before embarking on a national tour.
Actress, playwright and columnist Tracy-Ann Oberman will star as Geri Essendine, marking the first time the character has been played by a female lead. The role was originally created by Noël Coward himself and is traditionally portrayed as Garry Essendine.
The production follows Oberman’s acclaimed reinterpretation of another classic text when she took on the role of Shylock in The Merchant of Venice 1936.
Joining Oberman in the cast are James Dreyfus as Monty and Adrian Lukis as Len. Dreyfus is known for his television work in Gimme Gimme Gimme, The Thin Blue Line and Mount Pleasant, as well as numerous stage roles including The Producers and Cabaret.
Lukis’ screen credits include Pride and Prejudice, The Crown, Judge John Deed, Peak Practice and Black Mirror. His theatre work includes The Price, Orson’s Shadow, Being Mr Wickham and The Holy Rosenbergs.
The company also features Richenda Carey, Seb Carrington, Eva Feiler, Gabriella Foley, Charlotte Randle, Jonathan Tafler, Perry Williams and Kit Young.
In Coward’s much-loved comedy, Geri Essendine is a hugely successful actress whose charm and charisma have attracted devoted admirers and a colourful circle of friends and hangers-on. As she prepares to leave for a tour of Africa, a series of romantic entanglements, personal complications and professional demands threaten to overwhelm her.
The production is directed by Lindsay Posner, whose recent work includes West End productions of Noises Off, A View From the Bridge and The Deep Blue Sea. The creative team also includes set and costume designer Peter McKintosh, lighting designer Richard Howell, composer and sound designer Adam Cork, and casting director Ginny Schiller CDG.
Following its Bath run, Present Laughter will tour to Cambridge Arts Theatre, Malvern Theatres, Richmond Theatre, Cheltenham Everyman, Grand Opera House York, Lighthouse Poole, Liverpool Playhouse and Chichester Festival Theatre.
Listings and ticket information can be found here
