Felicity Kendal to star in 40th anniversary production of Noises Off at Theatre Royal Bath

Theatre Royal Bath Productions is set to present Noises Off, one of the greatest British comedies ever written, starring one of the UK’s best-loved stage and screen stars, Felicity Kendal.

Directed by Lindsay Posner, the award-winning farce by Michael Frayn will open in Bath appearing from Wednesday 21^st September to Saturday 1^st October, before touring to Richmond, Brighton and Cambridge. Further casting to be announced.

Michael Frayn’s celebrated play serves up a riotous double bill – a play within a play. Hurtling along at breakneck speed, Noises Off follows the on and off-stage antics of a touring theatre company as they stumble their way through the fictional farce, Nothing On. From the shambolic final rehearsals before opening night in Weston-Super-Mare, to a disastrous matinee in Ashton-Under-Lyme seen entirely, and hilariously silently, from backstage, before we share their final, brilliantly catastrophic performance in Stockton-on-Tees.

One of the UK’s best-loved actors, Felicity Kendal will play the role of the forgetful Dotty Otley. Well known for her illustrious television and stage career, Felicity shot to fame as Barbara Good in BBC’s The Good Life before starring as Gemma in Solo, Helena in The Camomile Lawn, Maxine in The Mistress (which was filmed in Bath) and Rosemary in ITV’s Rosemary and Thyme. In 2010, she took part in BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing. Felicity has won numerous awards for her stage work. At the National Theatre, she starred in Amadeus, Othello, On the Razzle, Arcadia and Humble Boy. Her theatre credits have also seen her star in numerous West End productions including Clouds, for which she won the Variety Club Best Actress of the Year Award; Much Ado About Nothing and Ivanov with Alan Bates, for which she won the Evening Standard Best Actress Award, and most recently Anything Goes in 2021. Her many previous performances at Bath’s Theatre Royal have included William Boyd’s The Argument in 2019; Alan Ayckbourn’s Relatively Speaking in 2012 and 2013, and Noël Coward’s Hay Fever in 2014, both of which enjoyed West End success; E.M. Forster’s A Room with a View in 2016; and, also prior to West End transfers, Mrs Warren’s Profession in 2009, The Vortex in 2008, Amy’s View in 2006, Happy Days in 2003 and Fallen Angels in 2000.

Noises Off will be directed by Lindsay Posner, one of the UK’s most accomplished directors of comedy. His previous production of Noises Off enjoyed a sell-out run at London’s Old Vic. His many acclaimed West End productions include Hay Fever and Relatively Speaking, both of which starred Felicity Kendal and also played Bath’s Theatre Royal. He was Associate Director of the Royal Court Theatre from 1987 to 1992, where his production of Death and the Maiden transferred to the West End winning two Olivier Awards. In the West End, he has also directed Butley, Abigail’s Party, A View from the Bridge, An Ideal Husband and Uncle Vanya. Recently at the Theatre Royal Bath, Lindsay has directed She Stoops to Conquer in 2015, The Truth in 2016, God of Carnage in 2018 and Stones in his Pockets in 2019.

An award-winning novelist, playwright and journalist, Michael Frayn’s diverse work for theatre also includes Copenhagen, Donkeys’ Years, Democracy, Alphabetical Order, Benefactors, Clouds, Balmoral and Afterlife. His first film, Clockwise, was released in 1986 starring John Cleese. His second film, First and Last, won an Emmy Award in 1990.

After watching, from the wings, a production of his 1970 farce The Two of Us starring Richard Briers and Lynn Redgrave, and noting that the goings on behind the scenes were funnier than out front, Michael Frayn wrote Noises Off. The original production opened in London in 1982 before becoming a worldwide hit. A feature film of Noises Off starring Michael Caine, Carol Burnett and Christopher Reeve was made in 1992.

Noises Off appears at the Theatre Royal Bath from Wednesday 21^st September to Saturday 1^st October. General booking for Noises Off opens on 22^nd March. Members booking is now open. To book tickets contact the Theatre Royal Bath Box Office on 01225 448844 or book online at www.theatreroyal.org.uk