National tour for Alan Ayckbourn’s Surprises
Following its premiere at the Stephen Joseph Theatre this summer and a sell-out run at Chichester Festival Theatre, Alan Ayckbourn’s latest play Surprises will tour the UK in spring 2013.
Love stories yet to happen in a future filled with surprises.
Who is the amorous stranger, Titus, who materialises in young Grace’s bedroom? Can she believe he is who he says he is?
For her parents, Franklin and Martha, does love everlasting still hold true if death is postponed indefinitely? Can lawyer, Lorraine, who prides herself on her infallibility, have finally discovered the ideal partner, one who is also never wrong?
Will lonely secretary Sylvia, after unhappy affairs with everyone from deep sea divers and space shuttle pilots, ever find her Mr Right?
Alan Ayckbourn says:
“I describe it as a play with its head in the future, but with its heart in the past. Surprises is essentially several love stories but love stories that have a spin on them. It’s science fiction but used as an allegory - as most good sci-fi is - to reflect what’s happening today.”
The tour will launch from Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre on 23 January and then travel to Windsor, Bath, Oxford, Cheltenham, Watford, Cambridge and Richmond.
The original Scarborough cast of Ayesha Antoine, Bill Champion, Laura Doddington, Sarah Parks, Ben Porter and Richard Stacey will all reprise their roles for the production which is directed by the playwright.
Written and directed by Alan Ayckbourn
Cast: Ayesha Antoine, Bill Champion, Laura Doddington, Sarah Parks, Ben Porter, Richard Stacey
Designer: Michael Holt
Lighting Designer: Jason Taylor
Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre 23 January – 2 February
Theatre Royal Windsor 4 – 9 February
Theatre Royal Bath 11 – 16 February
Oxford Playhouse 18 – 23 February
Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham 26 February – 2 March
Watford Palace Theatre 4 – 9 March
Cambridge Arts Theatre 11 – 16 March
Richmond Theatre 18 – 23 March
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