Following a sell-out run at Chichester Festival Theatre, Private Lives will transfer to the Gielgud theatre this summer with Toby Stephens and Anna Chancellor reprising their starring roles in Noël Coward’s classic screwball comedy.
Directed by Jonathan Kent, the tale of a divorced couple who rekindle their love whilst on honeymoon with their new spouses will play from 22 June (press night 3 July), with Anthony Calf and Anna-Louise Plowman stepping back into their roles as the pair’s newly hitched and soon to be spurned other halves.
A well-known face on the London stage, Stephens’ many leading theatre credits include recent productions Danton’s Death at the National Theatre, The Real Thing at the Old Vic theatre and A Doll’s House and Betrayal at the Donmar Warehouse. The actor, who will play the dashing Elyot Chase in Private Lives, has also appeared on screen in series including Vexed and Jane Eyre.
While Chancellor is arguably best known for her many screen roles including BBC drama The Hour and her infamous role in Four Weddings And A Funeral, the actress also boasts many starring roles on stage. Last seen in London in another Chichester Festival Theatre transfer, South Downs and The Browning Version, her other recent credits include The Last Of The Duchess at Hampstead theatre, Creditors at the Donmar Warehouse and The Observer at the National Theatre.
Calf will play the newly wed Victor Prynee following his latest leading role in Sheffield’s Crucible theatre’s highly acclaimed production of My Fair Lady and regular credits at the National Theatre (The White Guard, The Power Of Yes, Gethsemane , Never So Good). In a case of art imitating life, Holby City star Plowman, who makes her London theatre debut in the production, will complete the cast as her real-life husband Stephens’ on-stage wife Sibyl Chase.
Following in the footsteps of the recent success of £10 tickets for the Michael Grandage Company season, Private Lives will offer 250 £10 top price tickets each week. Chichester Festival Theatre’s Artistic Director Jonathan Church commented on the initiative, saying: “Private Lives thrilled us by appealing to a younger Chichester audience, so it’s particularly exciting that we’re able to offer daily top price tickets at £10 for the West End production in association with Time Out. This will be a great opportunity for as wide an audience as possible to see the sparks fly in Jonathan Kent’s glorious production.”
Private Lives, which will play a strictly limited season until 21 September, is the latest in a long list of West End transfers from the renowned regional venue. Chichester Festival Theatre’s productions of Singin’ In The Rain and Kiss Me, Kate can currently be seen in London, while last year’s Sweeney Todd, which was also directed by Kent, enjoyed an award-winning run at the Adelphi theatre.