The actor will star alongside Christine Baranski in a new production of Hay Fever, directed by Emily Burns and opening for a limited run in the autumn.
The Noël Coward comedy is set to open at Wyndham’s Theatre in September with Richard E. Grant starring alongside two-time Tony Award winner Christine Baranski, who’ll be making her West End debut.
“I love the theatre and am thrilled to return to it”, said Grant. “25 years ago, I guest starred for a night in The Play What I Wrote at the beautiful Wyndham’s Theatre. I am delighted to return to the Wyndham’s stage (and maybe to a bigger dressing room) alongside the sensational Christine Baranski.”
Baranski, whose last stage production was also 20 years ago, called it “a dream come true” to perform a Noël Coward play in the West End. “I look forward to ‘tearing a passion to tatters’ with Richard alongside our brilliant director, Emily Burns. Hay Fever is a 101-year-old comedy of appalling manners. It requires quicksilver delivery and suave flamboyance.”
Richard. E. Grant has appeared in more than 80 films and TV programmes including Withnail And I, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Jack & Sarah and The Hound of The Baskervilles.
The story of Hay Fever
Judith Bliss (Baranski) has recently retired from the stage but already misses the spotlight. Bored of the slow pace at her country home and lack of attention from reclusive husband David (Grant) and their adult children Sorrel Simon who still live at home, Judith invites a young fan to stay for the weekend.
Unbeknownst to each other, the rest of the family have all invited guests too, and so a chaotic weekend unfolds at the hands of completely incapable hosts.
Guests (and audiences) will be subjected to unruly parlour games, outlandish behaviour and unrequested encores by the eccentric family.
Directed by Emily Burns, whose previous shows include Love’s Labour’s Lost for the Royal Shakespeare Company and Dear Octopus for the National Theatre, the production will run from 22nd September to 12th December, with more cast announcements to come.
“I hope it will be a delicious treat for audiences to spend time with this blissful Bohemian family!”
Christine Baranski
Group tickets
Tickets are available to book now, and groups of ten or more are offered a discount on stall tickets for Monday and Tuesday evening shows.
For more information or to book tickets, head to wyndhamstheatre.co.uk/whats-on/hay-fever
