Theatre Royal set to stage Olivier Award-winning comedy play later this month

The Olivier Award-winning comedy play “Jeeves & Wooster in Perfect Nonsense” is coming to the Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds later this month.

Aristocratic buffoon Bertie Wooster has hired the theatre for the night to present his one-man show detailing a recent and rather spectacular series of misadventures, including the theft of a novelty cow creamer and a narrow escape from unwanted matrimony. The only trouble is Bertie hasn’t worked out who’s going to play the parts. Will the show be a disaster? Will the scenery stay upright? Or will his trusty manservant Jeeves step in and save the day?

In a joyous reimagining of the classic P G Wodehouse characters, three actors hurl themselves from role to role as they race to tell the story of Bertie’s own farcical adventures.

“Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense” was created by the Goodale Brothers, adapted primarily from P G Wodehouse’s “The Code of the Woosters”.

The show premiered at Richmond Theatre in 2013 with the lead roles being played by Stephen Mangan and Matthew McFadyen, then transferred to the Duke of York’s Theatre in the West End. It won the 2014 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy.

In this new production by The Theatre Chipping Norton and the Barn Theatre, Bertie Wooster is played by Matthew Cavendish who performs regularly with Mischief Theatre and has a local connection too, having grown up in Thurston.

Speaking about his early career he said: “I was a regular member of Suffolk Young People’s Theatre and performed numerous shows at the Theatre Royal – “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers”, “Kiss Me Kate”, “Cabaret” and “Sweet Charity” amongst others.

“I also performed as part of the community cast for the reopening of the theatre in the production “Black Eyed Susan” when I was 16. I have performed in numerous other shows whilst growing up there including with the Voice Squad and the Theatre Royal Youth Theatre.” The cast also includes Andrew Ashford and Andrew Cullum and is directed by John Terry.

“Jeeves & Wooster In Perfect Nonsense” has four performances at Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds, from Monday to Wednesday, Feburary 24 to 26. Tickets are on sale via the Box Office, call 01284 769505, book online at www.theatreroyal.org/shows/jeeves-wooster-in-perfect-nonsense/ or visit the theatre in person.