Noel Coward’s Private Lives at the Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds

1930. The South of France. Two newly-married couples occupy adjoining honeymoon suites in the same hotel. As a distant orchestra plays, Sibyl gazes adoringly at charismatic husband Elyot, while Victor admires his new wife, the vivacious and sophisticated Amanda.

London Classic Theatre present a major new touring production of Noël Coward’s sparkling comedy. In Private Lives, strong passions and stronger personalities set the stage for a classic battle of the sexes at the Theatre Royal, in Bury St Edmunds, from Tuesday to Saturday, September 12 to 16.

Champagne flows and the sea shimmers in the moonlight as the newlyweds prepare for the evening ahead. But when Amanda overhears a familiar voice singing a forgotten song, an old spark reignites, with spectacular consequences.

Full of razor-sharp wit and quick-fire dialogue, Private Lives is Noël Coward’s most popular and enduring stage comedy.

Extraordinarily written in only three days, Private Lives opened at London’s Phoenix Theatre in August 1930 to packed houses. Since then, this charming comedy of manners has retained its remarkable appeal, captivating audiences all over the world.

Noël Coward was one of the greatest playwrights of the 20th Century. His most notable plays include Hay Fever, Design for Living, Present Laughter and Blithe Spirit.

Olivia Beardsley plays Sibyl Chase. She returns to London Classic Theatre having previously appeared in its UK tour of The Collector. Other theatre credits include Brimstone and Treacle (Hope Theatre), Secret Santa (Arts Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Centennial Park Open Air Theatre, Sydney), and Charcoal Creek (Merrigong Theatre Company). For film she has starred in The Babadook.

Kieran Buckeridge plays Victor Prynne. His theatre credits include Up Down Man, Can’t Buy Me Love, (Salisbury Playhouse), The Secret Adversary, Pinafore Swing (Watermill Theatre, Newbury), Elektra, The Rivals, The History Boys, Our Country’s Good, The Recruiting Officer (Theatre by the Lake), and Hamlet (Nuffield, Southampton). For television, his credits include Ye Olde Dragon’s Den, Moving On, Pearly Gates and Worried about the Boy; and for film, Darkest House, Dementamania.

Jack Hardwick plays Elyot Chase. His recent theatre credits include The Railway Children (King’s Cross Theatre), Battis Boy (Arcola Theatre), Blood Wedding (The Courtyard Theatre), The Revenger’s Tragedy (Hoxton Hall), Collaborators (National Theatre), Kiss (White Bear Theatre), Quality Street (Finborough Theatre), The Tempest and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory). For television, his credits include Misfits and Law and Order; and for film, Verona.

Helen Keeley plays Amanda Prynne. She returns to London Classic Theatre having previously appeared in The Importance of Being Earnest. Other theatre credits include The Picture of Dorian Gray (Trafalgar Studios & UK tour), YapYapYap (Battersea Arts Centre), Half, To The End (Southwark Playhouse), and A Summer Day’s Dream (Finborough Theatre). For film, she has starred in Where To Now.

Michael Cabot is the founder and artistic director of London Classic Theatre. He has directed all 36 LCT productions since their debut in 1993 including Hysteria, The Birthday Party, Waiting for Godot, Absent Friends, Entertaining Mr Sloane, Betrayal, The Importance of Being Earnest, Equus and After Miss Julie.

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