Hay Fever - Noel Coward Theatre

Hay Fever

Noël Coward’s story of scandal, secrets and awkwardness comes to the theatre named after him in 2012, giving London theatre audiences an opportunity to witness an impressive team working under the direction of the acclaimed Howard Davies. From February, shortly after the closure of “Million Dollar Quartet” at the same venue, “Hay Fever” is set to appear on the stage and the announced cast includes Lindsay Duncan and Olivia Colman working alongside Jeremy Northam and Kevin McNally, who all bring a wealth of experience to their respective roles thanks to numerous previous credits.

“Hay Fever” is often regarded as a particularly significant piece by the renowned playwright and performer. The action takes place during the course of a weekend with the focus firmly on Judith Bliss (Duncan), a former star of the London stage and currently milking her retirement for all its worth. The chaos of the weekend is caused by her decision to head out into the country alongside her young suitor, unaware that her novelist husband and their two children have inadvertently decided on the same idea. So in “Hay Fever” audiences witness an awkward house party with a difference.

The play first appeared onstage back in 1925 at London’s Ambassador’s Theatre and it would prove to be successful enough to enjoy a long run there and at the Criterion Theatre. It would also make the journey across the Atlantic to audiences in New York City, giving American crowds a chance to witness the show (Coward had wished for producers stateside to accept his plays as early as 1921) and though it perhaps less known than the likes of “Private Lives” or “Blithe Spirit” it has its fair share of admirers.

Lindsay Duncan has appeared in a wealth of television shows and theatre productions during a long career, with audiences recognising her for work in the likes of “Doctor Who”, “Rome” and Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland”. Her London theatre credits go back to the 1970s with relatively recent credits such as “Mouth to Mouth” & “Private Lives” at the Noël Coward Theatre in 2001 and “That Face” at the Duke of York’s Theatre in 2007.

“Hay Fever” is set to appear at the Noël Coward Theatre from Thursday 23rd February 2012 (previews from Friday 10th February 2012) to Saturday 2nd June 2012.