Mike Leigh’s ‘Abigail’s Party’ premiered in London in April 1977. The ‘suburban situation comedy of manners’ was a huge critical and commercial success and returned for another sold-out run later that year. It would eventually be filmed for TV in November 1977 and is considered a classic piece of British Television.
The premise is simple: Beverly, the queen of suburbia, is hosting a cocktail party. Next door, 15-year-old Abigail is throwing a party of her own. No one can stop talking about Abigail’s party. Something must be done about Abigail’s party. As the night gets more and more horrible for those at Beverly’s party, the results are funny, outrageous and close to the bone.
This new production, directed by Jack Bradfield, aims to bring up to the surface the dark, psychological element underneath the awkward comedy of the nightmare cocktail party that Beverley is throwing.
‘Abigail’s Party’ runs from Friday 13th to Saturday 28th September at Northern Stage.
Tickets, priced from £12.00, are available at northernstage.co.uk.