Abigail’s Party

Cultural and the Arts

Jodie Prenger leads the cast in Abigail’s Party, Mike Leigh’s groundbreaking comedy classic coming to Aylesbury Waterside Theatre Mon 18 – Sat 23 Mar.

Joining Jodie as Beverly are Vicky Binns as Angela, Calum Callaghan as Tony, Daniel Casey as Lawrence and Rose Keegan as Susan.

Beverly and her husband Laurence are throwing a party for their newlywed neighbours, Tony and Angela. Joining them is highly strung Susan who’s been banished from the party of her teenage daughter Abigail. Welcome to 1970’s suburbia and its heady mix of free-flowing cocktails, classic disco and cheese and pineapple sticks. As tensions rise and tempers flare the sheen of respectability is torn away by the warring couples with hilarious and potentially disastrous consequences.

Mike Leigh’s iconic Abigail’s Party is one of Britain’s most celebrated comedies and was described by The Guardian as ‘One of the greatest plays about the human condition ever written.’

Vicky Binns has had long-running roles in Coronation Street, playing Molly Dobbs, and Emmerdale as Ollie Reynolds. Her theatre work includes The Winter’s Tale and To Kill a Mockingbird at Bolton Octagon and Lina Lamont in a recent tour of Singin’ in the Rain.

Daniel Casey is probably best known for playing Sergeant Troy in six series’ of Midsommer Murders. His theatre work includes Roger Shears in the award-winning West End production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at the Apollo Theatre the Gielgud.

Calum Callaghan’s TV credits include: Black Mirror for Netflix, Mr Selfridge (ITV) and Our World War and Torchwood for BBC. His most recent theatre including Junkyard for Headlong/Bristol Old Vic/Theatr Clywd, Cymbeline at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, Once a Catholic, directed by Kathy Burke and Port at the National Theatre.

Rose Keegan’s film and TV work includes Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Match Point, The Mirror Crack’d and Gimme Gimme Gimme. Recent theatre includes Susan in the Oxford Playhouse/Theatre Royal Bath production of Abigail’s Party, Stepping Out (Theatre Royal Bath) and A Message for the Broken Hearted (Liverpool Playhouse/BAC).

Jodie Prenger said: ‘Abigail’s Party is a true British classic and a real bucket list part for me. I’m thrilled to be involved in something so wonderful.’

Jodielanded the role of Nancy in Cameron Mackintosh’s revival production ofOliver!atthe Theatre Royal, Drury Laneafter winning BBC 1’sI’d Do Anything.She won the 2010 Whatsonstage Theatregoer’s Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical. She then went on to play The Lady of The Lake in theSpamalotUK tour and in the West End at the Playhouse Theatre, and Dolly in the National Theatre’s production ofOne Man Two Guvnorsat the Theatre Royal Haymarket. 2015 sawJodiestar in the title role ofCalamity Janeon theUK No. 1 Tour followed by a Christmas run ofAnnieat the New Theatre, Oxford in the role of Miss Hannigan. In 2016,Jodiestarred in a new UK tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s one woman showTell Me On ASundayand inJodiereprised the role of Madame Thenardier in a special production ofLes Miserablesin Dubai Opera Theatre.

Jodiehas guest presented for Elaine Paige and Paul O’Grady with BBC Radio 2. Other BBC Radio 2 appearances includeWogan, co-hostingGoing Out With Alan Carr, Chris Evans’ Breakfast Show,The Olivier Awards 2010andChildren in Need 2009with Graham Norton.

Recently,Jodiestarred in the one-woman UK tour ofShirley Valentine, and has just finished playing the role of Kelly in the production ofKay Mellor’s Fat Friends on its UK Tour with music written by Nick Lloyd Webber.

Tickets are available now by visiting Aylesbury Waterside Theatre Box Office. Alternatively call 0844 871 7607 (calls cost up to 7p per min plus your phone company’s access charge) or visit atgtickets.com/aylesbury (bkg fee).