By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN? Saturday 15 August and runs through 19 September 2026 RUNTIME: 120 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Growing up in the 70s with the sounds of Demis Roussos and taste of cheesy pineapple skewers, even the aspiration was palpable.

• Read on for reasons including how Outhwaite as Beverley performs remarkable comedy magic

The titular Abigail’s Party is a misdirection because the 15-year-old goes unseen and it’s happening next door while we join neighbours Beverley and Laurence with Abigail’s mum Susan and new residents Angela and Tony while keeping up with the Joneses is as important as how you cool your Beaujolais.

Beverley, the hostess for the adults drinks party, is here played by Tamzin Outhwaite (Entertaining Mr Sloane, Young Vic), and has become a gay icon for her shameless bullying of her guests and hot pursuit of former footballer neighbour Tony, here brought vividly to life by Omar Malik.

Almost a decade ago we joined the original star of the play – Alison Steadman perhaps more familiar now from TV’s Gavin and Stacey and director Mike Leigh – for a Q&A at which she revealed Beverley’s imagined future: ‘Probably had at least three more husbands. Possibly four or five. No kids. Tony probably jumped ship very quickly after the party.’ She imagines Beverly would’ve backed Margaret Thatcher and voted Leave. Was she tempted to give her some lovable touches? ‘No, she thinks she’s great.’

Alan Bennett described aspirational Beverley as ‘a brutal hostess with shoulders like a lifeguard and a walk to match’ and Steadman spoke to personnel managers at cosmetic companies and spent a few days wandering around Selfridges, watching beauty therapists at work, when improvising the part.

The comedy of Abigail’s Party springs from its observation of class with divorced Sue representing the middle class and the competing couples Beverley and Laurence and Tony and Angela the aspiring lower middle class.

It’s set in the 70’s when it was written and Outhwaite, so monstrously grotesque as landlady Kath in Entertaining Mr Sloane, performs similar remarkable comedy magic here.

This Stratford East production of Mike Leigh’s 70s awkward suburban black comedy has travelled to Theatre Royal Brighton and Richmond Theatre before settling at this West End home for late summer. 

Its full cast also perform sterling work including Lauren Patel as nurse Angela whose practicality impresses as events turn tragic.

Kevin Bishop as Beverley’s harassed husband earns our sympathy while poor Pandora Colin is especially funny as the obvious victim of our hostess’s kindness.

Abigail’s Party remains a comedy classic and the monstrously iconic Beverley is safe in Outhwaite’s more than capable hands.

• Main pictures via Facebook courtesy ATG Tickets
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