Alan Ayckbourn’s hilarious comedy Relatively Speaking will be opening at the Wyndham’s Theatre in London in May 2013. The show stars one of the UK’s best-loved actresses, Felicity Kendal, Jonathan Coy, Kara Tointen and Max Bennett.
In 2013 the comedy play has lost none of its ability to amuse. The story centres around Greg who only met Ginny a month ago but has already made up his mind that she’s the girl for him. When Ginny tells him that she’s going to visit her parents, he decides this is the moment to ask her father for his daughter’s hand in marriage.
Relatively Speaking is a beautifully crafted, wonderfully funny and charmingly quintessentially English comedy play. Relatively Speaking was Alan Ayckbourn’s first great West End success and turned him into a household name. When the show in London opened at the Duke of York’s Theatre in 1967, the critics hailed the arrival of a great new comic talent and audiences loved it.
Greg only met Ginny a month ago but has already made up his mind that she’s the girl for him. When Ginny tells him that she’s going to visit her parents, he decides this is the moment to ask her father for his daughter’s hand in marriage. Greg discovers a scribbled address, and decides to follow Ginny to Buckinghamshire where he finds Philip and Sheila enjoying a peaceful Sunday morning breakfast in the garden, but the only thing is – they’re not Ginny’s parents. In fact Phillip is Ginny’s older, married lover and Sheila is Phillip’s wife. You can imagine the confusion that ensues and the hilarity caused by the mistaken identity.
Felicity Kendal is one of the UK’s most popular actresses who shot to fame with her role in BBC television’s The Good Life. More recently she starred in the TV detective drama Rosemary and Thyme. This will be the first time she has starred in a play by Alan Ayckbourn since the West End premiere of The Norman Conquests in 1973.
Jonathan Coy’s many television credits include Rumpole, Hornblower, Brideshead Revisited, Downton Abbey and Foyle’s War. On stage he has starred in Nicholas Nickleby, Donkey’s Years and in the 2011 West End production of Much Ado About Nothing, with David Tennant.
Kara Tointon was recently on the West End stage in Pygmalion (alongside Rupert Everett) and Absent Friends. Her television credits include Dinotopia, Jonathan Creek, Bedlam, The Bill, EastEnders (multiple episodes), Dream Team and Harry and Cosh (multiple episodes), while her films include The Last Passenger, The Sweeney, The Football Factory and Never Play With The Dead. More recently Kara won the 2010 series of the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.
Max Bennett’s theatre credits include Posh (Royal Court at Duke of York’s), In Basildon (Royal Court), Luise Miller (Donmar Warehouse), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Headlong), Fabrication [Affabulazione] (The Print Room), Danton’s Death (National Theatre), Mrs Warren’s Profession (Comedy Theatre), Waste (Almeida), Romeo and Juliet (Theatre of Memory at Middle Temple Hall), Thyestes (BAC) and Finisterre (Theatre503). Films include Anna Karenina, The Sweeney, The Numbers Station, The Duchess and 99 Francs.
Lindsay Posner is an award-winning director, known for his work in the West End and at the Royal Court Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre. His recent productions include Noises Off at the Old Vic and Abigail’s Party which played Bath prior to a West End run.
Designer Peter McKintosh is the winner of an Olivier Award for Crazy For You in the West End and was Olivier nominated for Hello Dolly. His productions of Death And The Maiden, Butley and The 39 Steps all received Tony nominations on Broadway.
Tickets for Relatively Speaking are on sale for performances from the 14th May to the 31st August 2013. Tickets can be booked now at showsinlondon.co.uk or call 0871 976 976 7
Performance Schedule:
Tues- Sat – 7.30pm
Thurs, Wed & Sat – 2.30pm
First Thursday matinee – Thursday 16 May
First Saturday matinee – Saturday 18 May
First Wednesday matinee – Wednesday 29 May
Press Night – Monday 20th May at 7pm
