Bedroom Farce by Alan Ayckbourn (1974)

The Times Review

"Alan Ayckbourn's first play to be staged by and written for the National Theatre. No less than eleven of Ayckbourn's plays have been presented successfully in the West End over the past twelve years, including 'Relatively Speaking', 'How the Other Half Loves', 'Absurd Person Singular', 'The Norman Conquests', and, most recently, 'Just Between Ourselves'." ~ The National Theatre Season pamphlet.

"A stage comedy by Alan Ayckbourn is an event to be treasured" Daily Mirror
"The Noel Coward of our day" Daily Express
"Complete success...neither the pace nor the crackle ever lessens" Sunday Times
"Invincibly funny ... a consistent joy" Punch

Programme cover


Venue: Lyttleton Theatre
Opened: 16 March, 1977
Production Company: National Theatre
Director: Peter Hall & Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Timothy O'Brien & Tazeena Firth
Lighting: Peter Radmore
Music:
Length: approx 2 hours 15 minutes including one interval

Cast:
Michael Gough ... Ernest
Joan Hickson ... Delia
Michael Kitchen ... Nick
Polly Adams ... Jan
Derek Newark ... Malcolm
Susan Littler ... Kate
Stephen Moore ... Trevor
Maria Aitkin ... Susannah

Television Adaptation:
First broadcast: 28 September 1980, ITV
Director: Christopher Morahan
Producer: Pieter Rogers
Designer: Vic Symonds

Cast:
Michael Denison ... Ernest
Joan Hickson ... Delia
Michael Kitchen ... Nick
Polly Adams ... Jan
Derek Newark ... Malcolm
Brenda Blethyn ... Kate
Stephen Moore ... Trevor
Maria Aitken ... Susannah

Polly Adams and Michael Kitchen in Bedroom Farce. Photograph by Anthony Crickmay - from the programme.