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Jodie Prenger Blackpool Legend

5 min read

Press Office

5 min read

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Jodie Prenger Blackpool legend, who was born and educated in Blackpool, leads the cast in Abigail’s Party in Mike Leigh’s groundbreaking comedy classic which will make a visit to her home venue, the beautiful Grand Theatre in Blackpool from 11-16 March.

Joining Jodie as the irrepressible Beverly in Abigail’s Party are Vicky Binns as Angela, Calum Callaghan as Tony, Daniel Casey as Lawrence and Rose Keegan as Susan.

Producer, Richard Darbourne, who was born and bred in Poulton Le Fylde is particularly thrilled that his production of Abigail’s Party will be visiting the Grand Theatre in March:

‘I love coming home and to be able to bring shows to the stage I performed on in my teens is really special. As a producer of Abigail’s Party and as a local man I know that audiences in and around the Fylde will love watching this hilarious new production of Mike Leigh’s classic comedy with our very own Jodie Prenger playing the irrepressible Beverly. It’s a real treat’

Beverly and her husband Laurence are throwing a party for their newlywed neighbours, Tony and Angela. Joining them is highly strung Susan who’s been banished from the party of her teenage daughter Abigail. Welcome to 1970’s suburbia and its heady mix of free-flowing cocktails, classic disco and cheese and pineapple sticks. As tensions rise and tempers flare the sheen of respectability is torn away by the warring couples with hilarious and potentially disastrous consequences.

The Mail on Sunday of the performances in Abigail’s Party: ‘Prenger has delicious comic timing. As does Rose Keegan as Sue, while former Corrie actress Vicky Binns as Ange brings the house down with some dodgy go-go dancing.’

Mike Leigh’s iconic Abigail’s Party is one of Britain’s most celebrated comedies and was described by The Guardian as ‘One of the greatest plays about the human condition ever written.’

Vicky Binns has had long-running roles in Coronation Street, playing Molly Dobbs for five years, and Emmerdale as Ollie Reynolds for four years. Her theatre work includes The Winter’s Tale and To Kill a Mockingbird at Bolton Octagon and Lina Lamont in a recent tour of Singin’ in the Rain.

Daniel Casey is probably best known for playing Sergeant Troy in six series’ of Midsommer Murders. His theatre work includes Roger Shears in the award-winning West End production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at the Apollo Theatre the Gielgud.

Calum Callaghan’s TV credits include: Black Mirror for Netflix, Mr Selfridge (ITV) and Our World War and Torchwood for BBC. His most recent theatre including Junkyard for Headlong/Bristol Old Vic/Theatr Clywd, Cymbeline at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, Once a Catholic, directed by Kathy Burke and Port at the National Theatre.

Rose Keegan’s film and TV work includes Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Match Point, The Mirror Crack’d and Gimme Gimme Gimme. Recent theatre includes Susan in the Oxford Playhouse/Theatre Royal Bath production of Abigail’s Party, Stepping Out (Theatre Royal Bath) and A Message for the Broken Hearted (Liverpool Playhouse/BAC).

Jodie Prenger said: ‘‘Abigail’s Party is a true British classic. I love hearing the audiences laugh they way they do at this. It’s that funny it should be prescribed on the NHS. I’m thrilled to be involved in something so wonderful, with such a stunningly talented cast. I can’t wait to bring this production to my home town of Blackpool, and look forward to seeing everyone there.’

Jodie landed the role of Nancy in Cameron Mackintosh’s revival production of Oliver! at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane after winning BBC 1’s I’d Do Anything. She won the 2010 Whatsonstage Theatregoer’s Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical. She then went on to play The Lady of The Lake in the Spamalot UK tour and in the West End at the Playhouse Theatre, and Dolly in the National Theatre’s production of One Man Two Guvnors at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. 2015 saw Jodie star in the title role of Calamity Jane on the UK No. 1 Tour followed by a Christmas run of Annie at the New Theatre, Oxford in the role of Miss Hannigan. In 2016, Jodie starred in a new UK tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s one woman show Tell Me On A Sunday and in the autumn, Jodie reprised the role of Madame Thenardier in a special production of Les Miserables in Dubai Opera Theatre.

 

Abigail’s Party

Blackpool Grand Theatre | 11-16 March

Box Office 01253 290190 | Online blackpoolgrand.co.uk

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