Mike Leigh’s searing suburban comedy Abigail’s Party is given a thrilling new lease of life in an exciting new production at Blackpool Grand Theatre this October.

Everyone’s invited to a sparkling new production of Mike Leigh’s classic cult comedy ABIGAIL’S PARTY at Blackpool Grand Theatre from Tuesday 22 October to Saturday 26 October!

This is the party to end all parties as the cast and creatives are announced. RSVP right away!

Director Jack Bradfield – winner of the prestigious RTST Sir Peter Hall Director Award presented by Sir Ian McKellen, will bring a fresh new perspective to Leigh’s groundbreaking play which garnered cult status following the 1977 BBC TV Play for Today starring Alison Steadman.

Award-winning playwright and director, Jack is Artistic Director of Poltergeist and is currently Associate Director on Player Kings in the West End and on tour. He said, “I’m thrilled to be reviving Mike Leigh’s savage suburban comedy. We’re ratcheting up the awkward, the inappropriate, the unbearable and the plain strange, and staging the play in a whole new way. Our incredible cast and creative team are going to light a fire under this classic and bring it bright and burning into 2024.”

Laura Rogers (The Ocean at the End of the Lane, BBC’s Dr Who) will play self-appointed queen of suburbia, Beverly, who is hosting a cocktail party for her new neighbours. Next door, 15-year-old Abigail is throwing a party of her own. No one can stop talking about Abigail’s party. No one can stop thinking about Abigail’s Party. Something must be done about Abigail’s party…

Leander Deeny (Wuthering Heights/China Plate, Inspector Sands) will play Beverly’s husband, Laurence. Chaya Gupta (The Government Inspector, Hansel and Gretel) and Joe Blakemore (ITV’s The Hunt for Raoul Moat, HYEM) play their working-class neighbours Angela and Tony, and Amy Rockson (Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, Dr Faustus) plays next door neighbour Susan, mother of the eponymous Abigail.

Designer Anna Yates (Glee & Me at the Royal Exchange Theatre) will create a visually stunning set inspired by the original cast’s visit to the Ideal Home Show exhibition as part of the devising process. Designed to transport audiences to 1977 without becoming caricatured or cliched, the production will have a contemporary feel, opening the play up and showing it from a new angle. The creative team also includes Sound Designer Jamie Lu (The Haunting), Movement Director Rachel Birch Lawson (The Wolves), and Casting Director Annelie Powell.

Abigail’s Party is a Northern Stage, Rose Theatre, Mercury Theatre and ETT co-production, and is supported by a grant from the Royal Theatrical Support Trust.

Northern Stage Artistic Director, Natalie Ibu, said: “Mike Leigh’s iconic comedy rightly deserves its cult status. Jack’s vision brings it to life for audiences in 2024 with wit, humour and a sprinkle of psychological drama – it will be spectacular. Here at Northern Stage and indeed all our co-producers, we are committed to supporting the development of the next generation of inspiring, ambitious and skilled theatre artists to make work on stages across the country, so we’re thrilled to premiere this new production and audiences across the UK are in for a real treat.”

Settle into your seat, have a ‘little top up’ and enjoy this award-winning play as you have never seen it before.

Mike Leigh’s Abigail’s Party directed by Jack Bradfield and starring Laura Rogers (The Ocean at the End of the Lane, BBC’s Dr Who), Leander Deeny (Wuthering Heights/China Plate, Inspector Sands), Chaya Gupta (The Government Inspector, Hansel and Gretel), Joe Blakemore (ITV’s The Hunt for Raoul Moat, HYEM) and Amy Rockson (Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, Dr Faustus) is at Blackpool Grand Theatre from Tuesday 22 October to Saturday 26 October with evening and matinee performances.

Tickets from £19.50 with group/school rates available and concessions for under 16s and extra special offers for our 1894 Club loyalty members. Age guidance 12+

And don’t forget! You can pre-book bottles of ice-chilled sparkling Prosecco, fragrant fresh flowers and delicious chocolate truffles to treat your loved ones to the theatrical experience of a lifetime!

Please call the Grand Theatre Box Office on 01253 290190 or visit www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk for full listings, bookings and further information.e in an exciting new production at Blackpool Grand Theatre this October.