In 1975 Alan Ayckbourn set to work on a play that would eventually take the form of “Bedroom Farce”, a comedy that encapsulates the dilemmas of marriage and the ways in which others can be caught up in the whirlwind of trouble that ensues. It would eventually appear at both the National Theatre and the Prince of Wales Theatre in the West End, becoming instantly celebrated as an imaginative and effective comedy.
The play exploits the use of time and space to portray the nights of four couples caught up in the trouble of one particular husband and wife. Ayckbourn’s clever manipulation of the world he created would lend extra levity to the story and help elevate it to its current standing, where it continues to be enjoyed to this day.
As a result, a new production would be staged in 2002 with Richard Briers and June Whitfield in leading roles, then in 2009 the Rose Theatre in Kingston would reunite the text with its original director Sir Peter Hall. It is the latter production that now makes its way to the Duke of York’s Theatre in the West End, with Hall once again taking on the role of director for this acclaimed play.
Bedroom Farce follows the trials and tribulations of four couples during a single evening and its following morning. Susannah and Trevor are experiencing relationship troubles and decide that the best way in which to deal with them is to seek the help of their friends and family, whose respective bedrooms become the scenes of their relationship woes for the rest of the night. It means that Delia & Ernest, Malcolm & Kate and Jan & Nick are unlikely to get any sleep before dawn as the relationship problems of one couple seek to spill out into the lives of others.
Writer Sir Alan Ayckbourn is one of the most respected playwrights the country has to offer. Over a long and vibrant career he has penned some of the most famous plays in Britain, including “Woman in Mind”, “Just Between Ourselves”, “Absurd Person Singular”, “Private Feats and Public Places” and the trilogy of plays that makes up “The Norman Conquests”.
Bedroom Farce makes its anticipated appearance at the Duke of York’s Theatre from Tuesday 30th March 2010 (previews from Wednesday 24th March 2010) to Saturday 10th July 2010.