Theatre News

Casting announced for national tour of Handbagged

Susie Blake is to lead the cast in Moira Buffini’s comedy

Susie Blake is to play The Queen
Susie Blake is to play The Queen
(© Dan Wooller for WhatsOnStage)

Casting has been announced for Indhu Rubasingham's production of Handbagged, which embarks on a 13-week national tour in September.

Susie Blake is to star as The Queen in Moira Buffini‘s comedy which centres on the relationship between the monarch and Margaret Thatcher.

Blake's theatre credits include When We Are Married (Garrick Theatre), Grumpy Old Women Live 2: Chin Up Britain (Novello Theatre) and Wicked (Apollo Theatre) whilst her television credits include Victoria Wood As Seen On TV and Coronation Street.

Joining Blake will be Kate Fahy, Emma Handy, Asif Khan, Sanchia McCormack and Richard Teverson.

Handbagged premiered at the Tricycle Theatre in 2013 where it won the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre and was nominated for the WhatsOnStage Awards Best New Comedy and Best Ensemble Performance. The production transferred to the West End in 2014 where it ran for a 17-week season and received an Olivier Award nomination for Best New Comedy.

The UK tour of Handbagged runs 9 September to 5 December 2015, starting at Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury.