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"th[is] topping, London-born revival
of Alan Ayckbourn’s “Norman Conquests,”
crippling you with laughter that shakes
the body and, more subversively, fractures
the soul."
Ben Brantley, New York Times
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.
Creators
Matthew Warchus (Direction)
Rob Howell (Set and Costume Design)
David Howe (Lighting Design)
Simon Baker for Autograph (Sound Design)
Gary Yershon (Music)
Written by: Alan Ayckbourn
Starring
Amelia Bullmore
Jessica Hynes
Stephen Mangan
Ben Miles
Paul Ritter
Amanda Root
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