PRESS RELEASE 3 September 2018 Queen s Theatre Hornchurch, Derby Theatre, Wiltshire Creative and Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg present ABIGAIL S PARTY by Mike Leigh FIRST LOOK AT DOUGLAS RINTOUL S REVIVAL AS THE CULT CLASSIC COMES HOME TO ESSEX AT THE QUEEN S THEATRE HORNCHURCH IMAGES AVAILABLE HERE STARRING MELANIE GUTTERIDGE, LIAM BERGIN, AMY DOWNHAM, SUSIE EMMETT AND CHRISTOPHER STAINES, ABIGAIL S PARTY WILL TRANSFER TO DERBY THEATRE ON 26 SEPTEMBER ABIGAIL S PARTY IS ACCOMPANIED BY THE WORLD PREMIERE OF ABI BY ATIHA SEN GUPTA A BRAND NEW CONTEMPORARY RESPONSE PIECE 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 tragicomedy 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 in The 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. The Queen s Theatre and Derby Theatre have also commissioned a brand new play, Abi. This contemporary response to Abigail s Party is the latest in Derby Theatre s RETOLD, a series of new one-woman plays by some of the most exciting female voices working in contemporary theatre today. These pieces of new work crack open the classics and present well-known stories told afresh from the perspective of a female character. Previous plays in the series include Penelope RETOLD by Caroline Horton, Joan RETOLD written and directed by Lucy Skilbeck and Jinny RETOLD by Jane Wainwright. Abi is written by Atiha Sen Gupta who was the 2016-2017 writer-in-residence at Theatre Royal Stratford East. In 2009, when she was just 21, her debut play What Fatima Did premiered at the Hampstead Theatre to critical acclaim. The play was also produced in Germany and received the Youth Theatre Prize at the Heidelberger Stückemarkt Festival. In 2014, Sen Gupta s play about police racism, State Red, was produced at the Hampstead Downstairs. She followed this up with Counting Stars, a piece about two Nigerian nightclub toilet attendants working in a club in post-lee Rigby, post-brexit Woolwich, which played at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2015 and on the main stage of the Theatre Royal Stratford East in 2016. As well as theatre, Sen Gupta also writes for television, having written episodes of Holby City and Skins. It s been over forty years since Mike Leigh s gauche hostess Beverly slow-danced her way into theatrical history, but what happened to Abigail? Abi is the story of 15-year-old Abisheera (Abi for short), the granddaughter of Abigail. After one of her regular visits to see her grandmother in hospital, Abi decides to throw her one last party, convinced it will get her beloved Nan back on her feet. But as she tries to clear her head and her grandmother s flat, family secrets begin to surface. Will Abigail s past threaten Abi s already fragile present? Directed by Derby Theatre s artistic director Sarah Brigham, Abi will star Safiyya Ingar (LAVA, Nottingham Playhouse, Growth, Paines Plough) and will run alongside Abigail s Party at the Queen s Theatre (4 22 Sept) and at Derby Theatre (29 Sept 20 Oct). Abigail s Party is directed by the Queen s Theatre s artistic director Douglas Rintoul (Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Rope, The Crucible) with set and costume design by Lee Newby (James Graham s Labour of Love, Noel Coward Theatre), lighting design by Zoe Spurr and sound design by Ivan Stott. -ENDS- For further information please contact The Corner Shop PR on 020 7831 7657 Hannah Clapham or Samantha Montague
LISTINGS A Queen s Theatre Hornchurch, Derby Theatre, Wiltshire Creative and Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg production ABIGAIL S PARTY by Mike Leigh The Queen s Theatre Billet Lane Hornchurch RM11 1QT Tube: Hornchurch Box Office: 01708 443333 queens-theatre.co.uk Director Douglas Rintoul Set and Costume Designer Lee Newby Lighting Designer Zoe Spurr Sound Designer Ivan Stott Casting Director Matthew Dewsbury 30 Aug 22 Sept Queen s Theatre Hornchurch 26 Sept 20 Oct Derby Theatre 30 Oct 17 Nov Salisbury Playhouse 27 29 Nov Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg A Queen s Theatre Hornchurch and Derby Theatre production ABI by Atiha Sen Gupta 4 22 Sept Queen s Theatre Hornchurch 29 Sept 20 Oct Derby Theatre Director Sarah Brigham Set and Costume Designer Lee Newby Lighting Designer Zoe Spurr Sound Designer Ivan Stott PRESS PERFORMANCES Abigail s Party and Abi can be seen together at Queen s Theatre Hornchurch on Thursday 6 September at either of the following combinations: Abigail s Party at 2.00pm & Abi at 4.30pm Abi at 4.30pm & Abigail s Party at 8.00pm Abigail s Party and Abi can be seen together at Derby Theatre on Tuesday 2 October at the following times: Abigail s Party at 7.00pm & Abi at 9.30pm NOTES TO EDITORS About Queen s Theatre Hornchurch Queen s Theatre Hornchurch is a vibrant regional theatre with a rich heritage, working in Outer East London, Essex and beyond, celebrating its 65th birthday in 2018. As the cultural hub of the region, over 200,000 people enjoy the programme each year, including the best in home grown theatre, visiting live entertainment and inspiring Learning and Participation projects. Behind the scenes, sets and costumes are lovingly created on-site by a highly skilled carpentry workshop, scenic artists, prop makers and
wardrobe team. Audiences are guaranteed a warm welcome from a winner of UK Theatre s Most Welcoming Theatre 2016 & 2017. Autumn 2016 saw Douglas Rintoul s first season as the Queen s Theatre new Artistic Director, opening with the critically acclaimed regional premiere of musical Made in Dagenham, a co-production with the New Wolsey Ipswich, and the largest show in the Theatre s history to date. The Queen s Theatre has recently launched a fresh approach to talent development, titled Outer Limits, connecting with some local and regional professional artists for the first time, offering essential support that hasn t previously existed. The Theatre is ensuring that the next generation of theatre makers are equipped to move from making work in studio spaces to the main stage, providing valuable commissions and directing and design opportunities. About Derby Theatre Derby Theatre (previously Derby Playhouse) has a long and rich history of delivering high quality drama to audiences. Through Derby Theatre's unique partnership with the University of Derby, and as an Arts Council England National Portfolio organisation, the Theatre has transformed from a traditional producing house to an organisation of training, mentorship and artistic excellence. Led by Artistic Director and Chief Executive Sarah Brigham, Derby Theatre is bringing together creative professionals and audiences to tell compelling stories and take artistic risks. For 2018-2022, Derby Theatre received a 59% increase in its funding from Arts Council England, to enable it to continue and build upon the valuable work that it has started. The increase in funding has enabled the Theatre to: produce and present more Derby Theatre productions at the Theatre, including a Studio show in July 2018 for under 5s called Holiday, and a main house production of the Jungle Book in summer 2019 created for, and specifically aimed at, the Deaf community and audiences; expand its acclaimed RETOLD series, invest in the training of aspiring young theatre makers, including young people from disadvantaged backgrounds; continue its work in supporting the next generation of artists, more community work, more work with children and young people and deeper, more meaningful engagement with audiences. Derby Theatre is a vibrant and thriving theatre. A producing house that combines its professional programme with an exciting suite of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, as well as an emerging talent programme aimed at developing the next generation of artists. Meanwhile its community engagement programme reaches out across our region including people of all ages and from all backgrounds in the work of the theatre. About Wiltshire Creative Wiltshire Creative is a new pan-arts organisation that brings together the energy and ambition of Salisbury Arts Centre, Salisbury International Arts Festival and Salisbury Playhouse. It is an ambitious and innovative joint arts offer that secures a bright future for audiences, artists and participants. Wiltshire Creative is rooted in, and draws inspiration from, the city of Salisbury and works beyond its boundaries and draws audiences from across the county and further afield. The creation of new work is at the heart of its programme, as it builds new relationships with audiences, artists and participants. Wiltshire Creative is part of Arts Council England s National Portfolio of Organisations and also receives regular funding from Wiltshire Council and Salisbury City Council. About Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg The eclectic programming of the Théâtres de la Ville strives to represent all that is played, sung and danced on stage to the highest quality, and respond to the needs of its ever-growing audience. With a programme focused on quality and diversity, the Théâtres de la Ville have forged a solid reputation with their international partners over the years and have been able to establish collaborations with many other prestigious presenting houses and festivals. The Théâtres de la Ville aim to nurture the creative
vitality of the national scene by actively involving local talent in international co-productions. Furthermore, considerable effort is invested to enable home-grown projects to tour abroad by constantly nurturing partnerships with other European venues. This strategy of blending 'home' creations with international co-productions has enabled the Grand Théâtre and the Théâtre des Capucins to increase the visibility of Luxembourg both in the Greater Region and throughout Europe, and also enabled young Luxembourgish artists to work internationally by promoting them beyond the borders, thanks to excellent relationships with its partners.