1st Night Photos: Mangan and Macfadyen bring Perfect Nonsense to West End

PG Wodehouse's much-loved comic characters Jeeves and Wooster made their West End stage debut last night in Perfect Nonsense, which opened to press at the Duke of York's Theatre.

The production, described by director Sean Foley as a "labour of love", is adapted from Wodehouse's novel The Code of the Woosters by sibling duo Robert and David Goodale.

Starring Stephen Mangan as Wooster and Matthew Macfadyen as his loyal (and intellectually superior) butler Jeeves, the story sees Bertie Wooster unwittingly called on to play matchmaker, with hilarious consequences.

Speaking to WhatsOnStage after last night's press performance, Mangan said: "It's hard work, it's a very physical show, but it's a treat because you get such good feedback from the audience every night… we've crammed as much silliness into two hours of theatre as we possibly can."

He added that the Charleston performed by the cast at the curtain call is "like Hamlet having to do the fight at the end".

Macfadyen, best known for film roles including Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice and Oblonsky in Anna Karenina, said the decision to play Jeeves was "a no brainer".

"As an actor you're always looking for new things, and I read this and thought it was fabulous," he added. "They're just such wonderful characters."

Perfect Nonsense continues at the Duke of York's Theatre until 8 March 2014