Home, I'm Darling

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Home, I'm Darling
Written byLaura Wade
CharactersJudy
Alex
Johnny
Sylvia
Fran
Marcus
Date premiered25 June 2018 (2018-06-25)
Place premieredTheatr Clwyd
Original languageEnglish

Home, I'm Darling is a play by Laura Wade.[1]

Plot summary

Judy and Johnny lead a 50’s lifestyle, clothes, décor, appliances. She stays at home while Johnny works as an estate agent. He hopes for a promotion. He realises they have financial problems; the house might be repossessed. Three years earlier Judy had taken voluntary redundancy, but the money has run out. He is underperforming at work and doesn’t earn as much commission. He says he isn’t happy. They need to change. He gets a promotion, but it will involve a long commute. They agree to compromise.

Production history

Theatr Clwyd/National Theatre production

The play made its world premiere at Theatr Clwyd from 25 June to 14 July 2018, before transferring to the Dorfman Theatre at the National Theatre, London from 24 July to 5 September.[2][3] The production was directed by Tamara Harvey and starred Katherine Parkinson as Judy. On 31 August, National Theatre artistic director Rufus Norris stepped in to play Johnny after Richard Harrington was left indisposed.[4]

After the original production, it transferred to the Duke of York's Theatre in London's West End from 26 January to 13 April 2019, before embarking on a UK tour to the Theatre Royal, Bath, and The Lowry, Salford, before returning to Theatr Clwyd.[5]

The production toured again in spring 2023 starring Jessica Ransom as Judy, Neil McDermott as Johnny and Diane Keen as Sylvia.[6]

Australian productions

The play made its Australian premiere at the Melbourne Theatre Company from 20 January to 29 February 2020 at the Southbank Theatre, The Summer, directed by Sarah Goodes and starring Nikki Shiels as Judy.[7]

A production at the Sydney Theatre Company opened at the Drama Theatre at the Sydney Opera House in from 6 April to 15 May 2021, directed by Jessica Arthur and starring Andrea Demetriades as Judy. It was originally due to open in April 2020, however due to the COVID-19 pandemic the production was postponed.[8]

UK Northern Tour 2021

The play made its regional debut in the UK in 2021. The production was directed by Liz Stevenson, in a co-production between the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough, the Octagon in Bolton and Theatre by the Lake in Keswick. The production was in the round, the first time the play had been performed in this configuration.[9]

Cast and characters

Character Theatr Clwyd / National Theatre

(2018)

West End / UK Tour

(2019)

Melbourne

(2020)

Sydney

(2021)

UK Tour

(2021)

UK tour

(2023)

Judy Katherine Parkinson Nikki Shiels Andrea Demetriades Sandy Foster Jessica Ransom
Johnny Richard Harrington Richard Harrington

(West End)
Jo Stone-Fewings (Tour)

Toby Truslove Anthony Taufa Tom Kanji Neil McDermott
Sylvia
Sian Thomas
Susan Brown Jane Turner Tracy Mann Susan Twist Diane Keen
Alex Sara Gregory Izabella Yena Kirsty Marillier Sophie Mercell Shanez Pattni
Fran Kathryn Drysdale Siubhan Harrison Susie Youssef Chantelle Jamieson Vicky Binns Cassie Bradley
Marcus Barnaby Kay Hywel Morgan Peter Paltos Gareth Davies Sam Jenkins-Shaw Matthew Douglas

Awards and nominations

Original UK/West End production

Year Award Category Nominee Result
2018 UK Theatre Award[10] Best New Play Laura Wade Nominated
BroadwayWorld UK Award[11] Best Actress in a New Production of a Play Katherine Parkinson Nominated
2019
Laurence Olivier Award[12]
Best New Comedy
Won
Best Actress in a Play Katherine Parkinson Nominated
Best Actress in a Supporting Role Susan Brown Nominated
Best Set Design Anna Fleischle Nominated
Best Costume Design Nominated
WhatsOnStage Award[13] Best Actress in a Play Katherine Parkinson Nominated
Best Supporting Actress in a Play Sian Thomas Nominated

References

  1. ^ Haynes, Natalie (4 July 2018). "Home, I'm Darling review – cupcakes, cocktails and fetishising wifeliness". The Guardian.
  2. ^ "Richard Harrington cast in National Theatre and Theatr Clwyd's Home, I'm Darling | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
  3. ^ "Home, I'm Darling, National Theatre review: Well worth a ticket". The Independent. 2018-08-01. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
  4. ^ "Rufus Norris steps in to star in Home, I'm Darling at the National Theatre | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 2020-07-26.
  5. ^ "Cast joining Katherine Parkinson in the Home, I'm Darling West End transfer announced | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
  6. ^ "Home, I'm Darling - Bill Kenwright Limited". 2022-10-04. Retrieved 2023-08-02.
  7. ^ "Home, I'm Darling". www.mtc.com.au. Retrieved 2020-07-26.
  8. ^ "Home, I'm Darling". Sydney Theatre Company. Retrieved 2020-07-26.
  9. ^ "Theatre by the Lake announces Home, I'm Darling revival and plans to reopen this autumn". www.whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 2021-08-26.
  10. ^ "2018 UK Theatre Awards nominees announced | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  11. ^ BWW News Desk. "Shortlist Announced For The 2018 BroadwayWorld UK Awards; Voting Now Open!". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  12. ^ McPhee, Ryan (2019-03-05). "2019 Olivier Award Nominations: London's Company and Come From Away Lead the Pack". Playbill. Retrieved 2019-03-06.
  13. ^ "Hamilton leads 19th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards nominations | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 2020-12-03.