Party Games! tour

Here’s all the upcoming tour dates for the world premiere of new play Party Games!

Party Games! dates and tickets

About the show

Written by Michael McManus, a former insider in party politics, the play is steeped in his experiences working in Central Office during the tenures of Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher and John Major, and as a special adviser to various UK ministers from 1992 to 1995. McManus also served as head of Ted Heath’s private office from 1995 to 2000 and ran as the Conservative Party candidate for Watford in 2001.

Set in the UK in 2026, Party Ganmes! unfolds in a turbulent political landscape, marked by a hung parliament and an increasingly disgruntled electorate, complete with striking cheesemakers. The narrative centres on John Waggner, the newly elected leader of the hastily formed centrist One Nation Party, as he struggles to maintain his grip on power amidst the chaos.

The play poses intriguing questions: Can a single man, assisted by a Svengali-like spin doctor and questionable data, unify the country? What roles do his wife, the King, and even a large spider have in the precarious balance of power, not to mention the assistance of his trusty AI?

Party Games! cast

Starring in this Yvonne Arnaud original production is Matthew Cottle as Prime Minister John Waggner, known for roles including Stan Laurel in Chaplin, Martin in Game On, and Edward in The Windsors. Debra Stephenson, recognised for her roles in Playing the Field, Bad Girls, and Coronation Street, plays Deputy Leader Lisa Williams.

Natalie Dunne portrays Anne Waggner, the Prime Minister’s wife, while Ryan Early will play the role of spin doctor Seth Dickens.

The cast also includes Krissi Bohn as Private Secretary Candice Edwards, Jason Callender as Luke Roberts, and William Oxborrow in multiple roles.

Francis O’Connor’s design and Chris Davey’s lighting design complement Joanna Read’s direction in this provocative and humorous exploration of contemporary politics.