Theatre News

Laura Pitt-Pulford and Sandi Toksvig part of new English Touring Theatre season

The season includes a tour of Shakespeare’s Globe’s ”Nell Gwynn” and a new play written by the ”QI” host-to-be

Sandi Toksvig and Laura Pitt-Pulford
Sandi Toksvig and Laura Pitt-Pulford
© Dan Wooller for WhatsOnStage (right)

The world premiere of a new play by Sandi Toksvig features in the latest English Touring Theatre season.

Silver Lining is a comedy about five elderly ladies in a retirement home who trade stories of their lives. As a storm hits the home, they realise no one is on their way to help, so they have no choice but to save themselves.

It will be directed by Rebecca Gatward (The Night Watch) and open on 8 February 2017 at Rose Theatre Kingston before touring to Portsmouth, Oxford, Cambridge, Ipswich, Keswick, York and Salford.

The season also includes the Shakespeare's Globe production of Jessica Swale's Nell Gwynn. It will be directed by Christopher Luscombe, and will star Laura Pitt-Pulford (Seven Brides for Seven Brothers) as the titular character.

The play won this year's Olivier Award for Best New Comedy and after a run at the Globe, which WhatsOnStage gave a four star review, the play transferred to the Apollo Theatre.

It will open on 1 March 2017 at The Lowry, Salford before touring to Brighton, Malvern, Cambridge, Guildford, Cornwall, Blackpool, Edinburgh and Bath.

Silver Lining will open on 8 Feburary 2017 at Rose Theatre Kingston before touring the UK. Nell Gwynn will open on 1 March 2017 at The Lowry, Salford before touring the UK.