Alan Ayckbourn's comedy classic, three plays that follow the same six characters over the course of a weekend, will be performed in a rotating repertory schedule by the cast of the recent - and acclaimed - Old Vic production. They can be enjoyed as stand alone plays or as a trilogy.
The interconnecting triptych of plays, Round and Round the Garden, Table Manners and Living Together follow the same six characters, Norman, his in-laws and the local vet over a summer weekend, in an English Country house.
Believing it his mission in life to make women happy by showering them with love, Norman (Stephen Mangan) makes the most of every opportunity to seduce his sister-in-law, Annie (Jessica Hynes), charms his brother-in-law's wife, Sarah and woo his wife Ruth (Amelia Bullmore) during this disastrous weekend of squabbling, eating, drinking and fondling.
Table Manners, Living Together and Round and Round the Garden are ingeniously structured to allow each play to be enjoyed independently or as a trilogy in any combination. Together they create a fascinating, hilarious puzzle, which weaves a masterful web of interconnecting secrets and desires. With his inimitable wit and compassion, Ayckbourn reveals the frustration and disappointments which bubble beneath the surface of a family's relationships and brings to light their thoughts on sex, marriage, love and loneliness.
Alan Ayckbourn is one of Britains's most popular and prolific playwrights, with 70 full-length plays to his name, which have been translated into more than 35 languages. These multi-award winning names include Absurd Person Singular, recently revived in the West End plus Just Between Ourselves, A Chorus of Disapproval, Woman in Mind and House & Garden to name but a few.
Dates
Opened : 11th April 2009
Closing : 25th July 2009
Run time: (approx)
Table Manners : Act 1 65 mins | Act 2 60 mins
Living Together : Act 1 60 mins | Act 2 55mins
Round and Round the Garden : Act 1 60mins | Act 2 60mins
Audience: The Norman Conquests is appropriate for audiences aged 12+ and upwards. Children under 4 years of age will not be admitted into the Circle in the Square Theater.
Show Times
Tuesday @7pm: Round and Round the Garden
Wednesday @2pm: Table Manners
Wednesday @8pm: Living Together
Thursday @8pm: Round and Round the Garden
Friday @8pm: Table Manners
Saturday @11am: Table Manners
Saturday @3pm: Living Together
Saturday @8pm: Round and Round the Garden
* Two additional “Trilogy Weekends” on May 16-17 and June 27-28, when all three plays will be performed on Saturday and Sunday