Three plays you won’t want to miss at Exeter Northcott (because the best things come in threes)
There are some top shows coming up at Exeter Northcott. Here are three that I am looking forward to seeing…
One for the party Queens: I’m a closet Abba fan, so next Monday I’m excited to be seeing The Way Old Friends Do with some girlfriends.
Written by Ian Hallard, The Way Old Friends Do explores themes of loyalty, longing, and disco fever. Set in 1988, the play follows the journey of two lifelong friends who must confront their true identities, including one friend’s shocking admission of being an ABBA enthusiast. Fast forward thirty years later, and the two friends cross paths again, leading to the formation of the world’s first ABBA tribute band, performed entirely in drag!
Full of heartwarming moments and laugh-out-loud hilarity, The Way Old Friends Do is a touching and relatable story for anyone who has ever been a fan – of ABBA, or anything else. Don’t miss this unforgettable theatrical experience!
The show is running from 24th to the 29th April.
One for the literature lovers: Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) by Isobel McArthur (after Jane Austen) is running from the 12th to the 17th of June.
Fresh from its Olivier Award-winning run in the West End, Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) is a must-see comedy sensation that puts a bold and daring spin on Jane Austen’s classic love story.
In this irreverent yet affectionate adaptation, the battle for men, money, and microphones takes center stage, raising the stakes to dizzying heights when it comes to matters of the heart. Featuring a fantastic soundtrack of pop classics like “Young Hearts Run Free,” “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” and “You’re So Vain,” this show is a party for the ages set in the 1800s, with ruthless matchmaking at its core.
The Daily Telegraph hail it as “smart, laugh-out-loud funny,” “Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of)” promises to be a night of uproarious entertainment that you won’t soon forget.”
One for the Classic theatre fans: Abigail’s Party is running from 20th to the 24th June, I’m very interested to see Michael Cabot’s take on Mike Leigh’s brilliant black comedy.
Step back in time to 1977, a year of tight-fitting polyester, the Queen’s Silver Jubilee, and the electrifying beat of Saturday Night Fever. In the midst of all this, at the Hampstead Theatre in London, Mike Leigh and his talented cast were putting the finishing touches on Abigail’s Party, a landmark black comedy that would forever leave its mark on twentieth-century theatre.
Set in a suburban living room, Abigail’s Party follows the preparations of Beverly and her husband Laurence as they play host to their neighbours Angela, Tony, and Sue. As the drinks flow and the snacks are passed around, Leigh’s razor-sharp, side-splittingly funny examination of 1970s British life kicks into gear.
Premiered at the Hampstead Theatre in 1977, Abigail’s Party made history with Alison Steadman’s unforgettable performance as Beverly. The play became a modern classic and a national treasure, with a record sixteen million viewers tuning in to watch its broadcast as “Play for Today.”
★★★★★ – Broadway World
★★★★ – The Stage