THE play that skewers the brittle, materialist, class-conscious spirit of the 1970s, Mike Leigh’s Abigail’s Party is on a national tour, in a new production starring Tamzin Outhwaite, coming to Bath Theatre Royal from Monday 22nd to Saturday 27th June.

A ferocious satire on suburban life, the play is set in the Essex home of Beverly and husband Laurence, who are giving a drinks party to welcome new neighbours Angela and Tony. They have also asked Sue from next door – but the real party is happening back at her home where her teenage daughter Abigail can’t seem to keep the racket down.

Beverly is the hostess with the mostest, until she’s not … Awkward small talk and light banter quickly descends into inappropriate flirtation and marital disputes. The welcome-to-our-street evening becomes a soiree from hell, but it’d be rude to leave.

Mike Leigh’s razor-sharp portrait of social class, materialism and sexual tension in 1970s England is an unmissable modern classic. Developed through extended improvisations with the original cast, including Alison Steadman in a career-launching role as Beverly, Abigail’s Party premiered at London’s Hampstead Theatre in 1977, before being recorded and televised on the BBC’s Play for Today

For this new production, which is heading for the West End, the demanding and iconic role of Beverly is played by Tamzin Outhwaite, who is well known from many television roles, including in EastEnders, Red Cap, Hotel Babylon and New Tricks. She returns to the Theatre Royal stage after previous appearances in Grease (1990) and Stepping Out (2016).

Her husband is played by comedian, writer and actor Kevin Bishop, whose many roles in film and television include The Kevin Bishop Show, (which he also co-wrote), Muppet Treasure Island, the British Comedy Award winning Star Stories and the 2016 revival of Porridge.

The cast is completed by Pandora Colin as Sue, Omar Malik as Tony and Lauren Patel as Angela. The production is directed by Nadia Fall.

Photograph by Mark Senior