Abigail's Party Tickets - Menier Chocolate Factory

Abigail's Party

The Menier Chocolate Factory is the new home of Mike Leigh’s famous play “Abigail’s Party” as it is staged in London once again following its debut in the late 1970s. The black comedy is Leigh at his best and as a result it is often regarded as his most stand-out play, which is why it requires particular talent to do it justice. So on this occasion it employs the skills of director Lindsay Posner, recently seen in the capital with “Noises Off” at the Old Vic Theatre, and performer Jill Halfpenny to create a compelling production. So “Abigail’s Party” is in safe hands as it makes its way back to a London theatre.

The first London theatre to call itself the home of “Abigail’s Party” was the Hampstead Theatre in 1977 and it has since been seen all over the country thanks to revivals in regional theatre and its TV version, which emerged in the 1980s. Leigh would go on to pen many further well known plays over the years, in addition to his work as a renowned British film director, and most recently he unveiled “Grief”, which appeared at the Cottesloe National Theatre from September 2011 to January 2012. 2011 also saw the revival of “Ecstasy”, which appeared at the Duchess Theatre early in the year.

In “Abigail’s Party” we follow the eventful evening that transpires after Berverly Moss invites her new neighbours, Angela and Tony, over for drinks alongside another neighbour, Susan, whose daughter Abigail has her own party at home. But the evening is disastrous, particularly as Laurence – Beverly’s husband – has to watch Beverly become more and more flirtatious with Tony. During the course of the night we witness bad tempers, prejudices, obsessions and plenty of alcohol consumption, right up its shocking ending.

Actress Jill Halfpenny is well known to audiences for her work in the West End, where she is perhaps best known for appearing in current hit “Legally Blonde the Musical” at the Savoy Theatre, though she has also made a name for herself in the television series “Waterloo Road”.

“Abigail’s Party” runs at the Menier Chocolate Factory from Thursday 8th March 2012 (previews from Friday 2nd March 2012) to Saturday 21st April 2012.