New version of Amanda Whittington’s Ladies’ Day comes to New Vic Theatre and Octagon Theatre
A revised production of Amanda Whittington’s life-affirming comedy Ladies’ Day will make its debut this Spring.
New Vic Theatre and Bolton’s Octagon Theatre will co-produce the refreshed show, running at the New Vic from 3 – 25 February 2023 and then Octagon Theatre from 8 March – 1 April 2023.
Set in 2005 – the year Royal Ascot relocated to York for a season – Ladies’ Day charts the story of four women who swap their typical working day at a fish factory for front row at the races.
New Vic Artistic Director Theresa Heskins said: “I’m really grateful that Amanda Whittington has revised her 2005 play for our production. She’s kept the story in its specific time and place but approached it through the lens of the 2020s.
“It’s fascinating to see the results of that, including attitudes to the Royal family, and to have our own recent history reflected back to us. The original engaging, witty piece of work about ordinary lives has become an even richer piece of drama.”
Pearl, Jan, Shelley and Linda spend their days filleting fish and talking about life, love and last night’s tea in the factory where they work. With the world weighing heavy on their shoulders, the foursome are due a day off, not least to celebrate Pearl’s retirement.
When Royal Ascot relocates to York, the ladies seize the chance to swap their overalls for fancy hats and head off for a day of fizz, flirting and fun. But with high aspirations and fraying tempers, as the racing begins and they place their bets, will they win big, or will their luck fall at the final hurdle?
Ladies’ Day will be directed by Marieke Audsley (Jekyll & Hyde, Guildford Shakespeare Company, The Massive Tragedy of Madame Bovary!, Jermyn Street Theatre) and stars Gareth Cassidy (Marvellous, New Vic, @sohoplace); Tanya-Loretta Dee (Sirens, Mercury Theatre, Family Album, Stephen Joseph Theatre), Annie Kirkman (The Hound of the Baskervilles, East Riding Theatre, Beryl, Arcola), Jo Patmore (As You Like It, Northern Broadsides and New Vic, Frost Hollow Hall, East Riding Theatre) and Kate Wood (Brassed Off, Derby Theatre, The Full Monty, David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers).
Director Marieke Audsley said: “I am delighted to be directing Amanda Whittington’s wonderful play, Ladies’ Day. It’s such a fun, funny, heart-warming show, which tells the story of four fabulous friends. I very much hope that audiences will love meeting and being entertained by these brilliant women.”
For more information and tickets, visit newvictheatre.org.uk or octagonbolton.co.uk
