I had no idea what to expect from Mike Leigh’s Abigail’s Party at the Royal Exchange Theatre’s intimate circular space. The 1970s suburban setting was ready to go as the audience filtered in, but I was unprepared for the talent I was about to witness.
Discovering a classic for the first time
I have to admit, I believe the best theatrical experiences come when you walk in with a blank slate. I’d never seen Abigail’s Party before, and knew virtually nothing about the plot. This turned out to be a blessing. Without preconceptions or comparisons to previous productions, I was able to experience Beverly Moss’s chaotic gathering with fresh eyes.
It was only after the performance that I sought out clips from earlier productions, which revealed just how exceptional the Manchester production is. The Royal Exchange’s version doesn’t just honour Mike Leigh’s vision, it elevates it.
If you’ve only seen Kym Marsh in her recent stunt as Cruella De Vil in 101 Dalmatians or as Michelle Connor in Coronation Street, prepare to be amazed. Her portrayal of Beverly Moss is relatable, hilarious, and a testament to exceptional casting. She doesn’t just play Beverly, she becomes her – inhabiting every gesture, judgmental tone, and emotion.
We all know a Beverly, especially if you’re a northerner like me. She’s that appearance-driven aunt, neighbour, or colleague who tries too hard to entertain and name-drops at every opportunity (which she’ll often make herself). Watching Marsh’s performance of Beverly suggests she most certainly knows one too, as she captured her with such authenticity that you can’t help but cringe at her desperate attempts for attention.
Yet, the comedy never feels out of place as Kim Marsh finds the humanity in Beverly’s pretensions. It’s a performance that deserves to be seen by anyone who appreciates great acting.
Chemistry and tension: The perfect supporting cast
Theatre is a team effort, and Kym Marsh’s standout performance wouldn’t shine half as brightly without the strong support of the rest of the cast and the brilliant ensemble of characters around Beverley’s living room.
Tupele Dorgu is spot on as Sue – Abigail’s middle-class mum and Beverley’s neighbour, who spends most of the night clearly uncomfortable, politely enduring Beverley’s overbearing hospitality. Graeme Hawley plays Laurence, Beverley’s stressed-out, overworked husband, who seems to go out of his way to avoid her as the evening unfolds.
Rounding off the cast are Yasmin Taheri and Kyle Rowe as fairly newlyweds Angie and Tony, who’ve just moved onto the street. Angie is sweet and eager to please, though she often comes across as a bit naive, while Tony, her ex-footballer husband, is a man of very few words.
The chemistry between Kym Marsh and Graeme Hawley is spot on. Their on-stage dynamic captures the reality of many broken-down marriages, where both partners have stopped truly seeing each other. Laurence comes across as a man quietly suffocating under Beverley’s constant need to impress and her high-maintenance exterior. The pair bounce off each other perfectly – with sharp remarks, eye-rolls, tense silences and the kind of weary frustration that feels built up over years. It’s all incredibly believable.
The supporting cast rounds out the suburban ensemble brilliantly. Each character shows up to Beverly’s party with their own emotional baggage, which fuels a slow-burning mix of anxiety and social pretence. As the drinks keep flowing, the masks begin to slip, and you start to witness the reality behind the facade of each character, setting the stage for a chaotic evening.
The magic of the revolving set
One of the standout elements of this production is how cleverly the crew make use of the Royal Exchange’s unique circular stage. As the performance unfolds, the set gently rotates, offering shifting views of Beverley’s living room and allowing us to catch the expressions and reactions of different characters from all angles.
It creates a real fly-on-the-wall feeling like you’re quietly moving around the party, overhearing a hushed argument between Angie and Tony one moment, then finding yourself alongside Beverley as she breaks down in the bathroom the next. The slow turning of the set, often timed to the music, gives the whole evening a steady flow – a simple yet clever touch that adds to the mood and mirrors the tension bubbling away underneath.
The intimate venue further enhances the narrative of the awkward gathering, serving the play’s themes beautifully. You can’t distance yourself from these characters when they’re performing just metres away from you. In choosing this location, the atmosphere allows for subtle performance choices that would be lost in a larger theatre. The actors can work with genuine naturalistic detail, creating moments of real behaviour rather than theatrical gesture. It’s this authenticity that makes the play’s more dramatic moments so effective when they arrive.
An evening of authentic entertainment
This is definitely a show to watch. The five people at Beverley’s party don’t feel like characters – they’re the kind of people you’ve met before. It’s a timeless look at how we put on a front, the pressure to keep up appearances, and what’s really going on behind closed doors. What starts as an awkward social comedy gradually shifts into something much more intense and sobering, and by the final scene, you feel like you’ve been through it all with them.
Find all information regarding dates and cast on the Royal Exchange Theatre’s website.
