Noises Off

One of the greatest British comedies ever written returns to Bath for the first time in almost a decade. 

Michael Frayn’s celebrated play serves up a riotous double bill – a play within a play. Hurtling along at breakneck speed, Noises Off follows the on and offstage antics of a touring theatre company as they stumble their way through the fictional farce, Nothing On. From the shambolic final rehearsals before opening night in Weston-super-Mare, to a disastrous matinee in Ashton-Under-Lyme seen entirely, and hilariously silently, from backstage, before we share their final, brilliantly catastrophic performance in Stockton-on-Tees.

One of the UK’s best-loved actors, Felicity Kendal plays the role of Dotty Otley. Having shot to fame in The Good Life, Felicity has won numerous awards for her stage work. Recent visits to Bath have included Relatively Speaking, Hay Fever and The Argument.

Jonathan Coy played George Murray in Downton Abbey. He has starred in the West End production of Noises Off and alongside Felicity Kendal in Relatively Speaking.

Matthew Kelly won the Olivier Award for Of Mice and Men. His West End credits include Waiting For Godot, Comedians and Troilus and Cressida and the recent acclaimed UK tour of The Dresser. 

Tracy-Ann Oberman is well known for her role as Chrissy Watts in EastEnders. Her stage credits include the West End revival of Stepping Out, Edmond with Kenneth Branagh and Boeing Boeing.

The cast also includes Alexander Hanson and Joseph Millson.

Lindsay Posner is one of the UK’s most accomplished directors of comedy. His previous production of Noises Off enjoyed a sell-out run at London’s Old Vic. His recent productions in Bath include God of Carnage, Stones in his Pockets, She Stoops To Conquer, and he previously directed Felicity Kendal in the West End transfer of Hay Fever.

★★★★★ “The ultimate comedy of theatrical chaos and confusion” Sunday Express

★★★★★ “Lindsay Posner’s miraculously choreographed revival is proof that Noises  Off has lost none of its power to reduce adults to hysterical, helpless wrecks” Mail on Sunday

★★★★★ “As finely worked as a Swiss watch and as funny as the human condition permits” The Times

“I giggled myself silly throughout” Observer

Reviews from the 2012 Old Vic production & tour