A new production of Mike Leigh’s situation comedy Abigail’s Party, helmed by director Michael Cabot, is coming to the Churchill Theatre.
Set in a suburban living room, the story unfolds over the course of a drinks party between hosts Beverley and Laurence and their neighbours and guests, Angela, Tony and Sue. As the alcohol flows, tensions rise and risqué flirting ensues. But while the plot certainly reaches a dramatic climax, it’s the subtext that makes Abigail’s Party a modern classic.
I spoke to cast member Alice De-Warrenne (pictured below – the one wearing glasses), who plays Angela in the current tour, to find out more…
Holly O’Mahony (HOM): What made you choose to pursue acting as a career?
Alice De-Warrenne (ADW): I think my real love of acting came when I was at secondary school thanks to an incredible drama department. The teachers always put so much effort and passion into the school plays, and the buzz of being on stage was addictive. Waiting for the cast list to be put up in the corridor each year felt like such a big deal!
HOM: You’re still relatively early on in your career. How’s it going?
ADW: Since graduating from Guildford School of Acting (GSA) in 2015, I’ve worked on a variety of shows, from gritty dramas to comedies, but have actually spent the last few years doing a lot of children’s theatre and puppetry.
HOM: Abigail’s Party is a modern classic. What was your first impression of it?
ADW: Apparently it’s one of the UK’s most performed plays, although I hadn’t actually seen a production myself. I’d seen the famous film version though and thought it was incredible – I’m such a fan of Mike Leigh’s films. I think the thing that always strikes me with his work is how incredibly complex his characters are; just when you think you’re watching a bit of a stereotype, they surprise you by saying or doing something that shows a completely different side.
HOM: Are you performing it as a 70s-set period piece, or has it been updated to reflect contemporary style?
ADW: It’s very much a period piece. Our designer Bec Palmer has created the most wonderful 70s living room, which is the setting for the entire play. Every time she arrived in the rehearsal room with a new prop I’d find myself saying something like: “oh my granny had these weird green plates!” The set is like peering into a time capsule and for anyone who lived through the 70s, it must be very nostalgic. It’s been so much fun getting to fully immerse ourselves in a different era. Some of the actors have even had their hair cut and styled to fit the times!
HOM: When it premiered in the 1970s, Abigail’s Party was praised for aptly satirising the new middle class of the time. How relevant is the play today?
ADW: I think the show is still so relevant today. We as a nation seem to still be obsessed with the idea of class and as the characters discuss what car they own or what they had for dinner, you can feel the audience laughing at themselves for caring about all these silly things. I guess one of the big differences is the cost of living now. My character Angela, who is in her early 20s and works as a nurse, manages to buy a house for £21,000 on the outskirts of London. Imagine that!
HOM: Do you feel any sense of affinity with Angela?
ADW: I think Angela is one of my favourite roles I’ve ever played. She’s the sort of person who just says whatever pops into her head and is completely oblivious to when her questions about childbirth or divorce make the other characters uncomfortable! She’s tactless, naïve and a little bit ditsy, but she also has another side to her. As a nurse, she’s very capable and is suddenly able to take control of a situation if required. I think I’m quite protective of Angela as it would be easy to just write her off as an airhead, but it’s important the audience gets to see there’s more to her than that.
HOM: You’re a few weeks into a national tour. How are you finding being on the road with the show?
ADW: We really are having the best time. The audiences have been amazing so far and it’s been so interesting to hear how different parts of the show appeal more to audiences in different cities. We’ve had such a warm welcome from everyone and the reviews have been lovely, so hopefully that continues!
Abigail’s Party is showing at the Churchill Theatre, High Street, Bromley BR1 1HA.
April 19 – 22, 7:30pm with additional 2:30pm matinees on Thursday and Saturday.
Admission: £15.
www.churchilltheatre.co.uk/Online/tickets-abigails-party-bromley-2023
- READ MORE: Abigail’s Party is in Bromley
