Watford Palace Theatre announces full case for Alan Ayckbourn's Absurd Person Singular

Previously announced Palace stars Jill McAusland and Terence Frisch will be joined by Oliver Longstaff, Emily Tucker, Sarah Quist and Walter van Dyk in this hilarious new production.

The production, directed by Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Watford Palace Theatre Brigid Larmour, opens on 12th March, with previews from 7th March and runs until 30th March. Brigid is a huge fan of comedy, and after directing two wonderful Ayckbourn's, two joyous Shakespeare's, and four sold-out pantos, she's decided it's time to bring you this vintage comic gem! So, book now to enjoy Absurd Person Singular!

It’s Britain on the make in 1971 and backstage at the party, three marriages are in the pressure cooker.  Sidney wants to play party games, but he also needs a loan from Ronald. Marion wants to go home, but definitely needs another drink. Eva would (literally) rather be dead, but Geoffrey’s certain she’ll be happier once he’s left her.  Meanwhile Jane’s still in her Marigolds, desperately trying to keep the kitchen ship-shape. (Suitable for ages 11+)

Terence Frisch returns to Watford Palace Theatre to play Sidney having appeared as the Dame in eight pantomimes for the company. Some of his other credits include Joy Bubbles (The Other Palace), Septimus Bean and His Amazing Machine (Unicorn Theatre), Faulty Towers - The Dining Experience (UK tour), The Lord of the Rings (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare’s Globe); and for film, Hugo.

Terence Frisch

Oliver Longstaff returns to Watford Palace Theatre to play Geoffrey – he previously appeared in Sleeping Beauty. Other theatre credits include Crime (Bezna Theatre), Surgeon to the Dead and The Academy of Melancholy (Old Operating Theatre, Southwark); and for television, 1Life.

Oliver Longstaff

Jill McAusland returns to Watford Palace Theatre to play Jane, having previously appeared in seven pantomimes for the company. Her other theatre credits include The Moor, Correspondence (Old Red Lion), The Lost Boy (Theatre in the Quarter), Out of the Cage (Park Theatre), Jumpy (Royal Court Theatre /Duke of York’s Theatre), Alice in Wonderland (Royal & Derngate Northampton); and for television, Call the Midwife and Getting Back with Dave Benson Phillips.

Jill McAusland

Emily Tucker returns to the company to play Eva – she previously appeared in Much Ado About Nothing. Other theatre credits include Head-Rot Holiday (The Hope Theatre), Fortune's Fool (The Old Vic), A Warsaw Melody (Arcola Theatre), Suddenly Last Summer, Lady of the Lake, Fallen Angels (Theatre by the Lake), As You Like It, A Midsummer Night's Dream (St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden) and The Importance of Being Earnest (Courtyard Theatre). Her television credits include Not Safe for Work; and for film, Heretiks and The Seasoning House.

Emily Tucker

Sarah Quist plays Marion. Her theatre credits include King Lear (Royal Exchange Theatre), A Mad World My Masters, Hecuba, Alice in Wonderland (RSC), The Merry Wives of Windsor (Grosvenor Park), The Amen Corner (National Theatre), Bacchae (National Theatre of Scotland), The Tempest (UK tour), Romeo and Juliet (Southwark Playhouse) and Five Buddies in a Box (Savoy Theatre). Her television credits include Stella.

Sarah Quist

Walter van Dyk returns to Watford Palace Theatre to play Ronald – he previously appeared in Arms and the Man, Equally Divided, Sleeping Beauty and Dick Whittington. Other theatre credits include A Flea in Her Ear (The Old Vic), Enter the Guardsman (Donmar Warehouse), Two Gentlemen of Verona, High Society, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), The Importance Of Being Earnest (Rose Theatre Kingston), Sweeney Todd (Theatr Clwyd); and for film, The Carrier, The Eagle, Incognito and Abbot's Approach.

Walter van Dyk

Brigid Larmour is Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Watford Palace Theatre. Her credits for the company include Much Ado About Nothing, Coming Up, Jefferson’s Garden, Love Me Do and Watch, Fourteen, Perfect Match, We That Are Left and Mrs Reynolds and the Ruffian, Equally Divided, Our Father, My Mother Said I Never Should, Time of My Life, Absent Friends, As You Like It, Robin Hood, Sleeping Beauty and Dick Whittington. From 1998 to 2006 she was Artistic Director of West End company Act Productions, and adviser to BBC4 Plays. From 1993 to 1998 she directed a series of promenade Shakespeare’s Shakespeare Unplugged, for RNT Education. From 1989 to 1994 she was Artistic Director of Contact Theatre, Manchester, commissioning the first British plays responding to the rave scene (Excess/XS), and the implications of virtual reality (Strange Attractors, a multimedia promenade production, by Manchester poet Kevin Fegan). She trained at the RSC, and as a studio director at Granada TV.

Book early at Watford Palace Theatre to enjoy the comic feast, full of 70's kitsch and marital misunderstandings that is Absurd Person Singular!

(Source: Watford Palace Theatre)