Abigail's Party - The Boulevard Theatre

Welcome to one of the most famously awkward evenings of all time.

Overbearing Beverly, socially aspirant, patronising, and apparently impervious to embarrassment is inflicting aggressive hospitality on her neighbours. Reluctantly assisting her is her stressed and disappointed estate agent husband, Laurence. On the guest list are kind-hearted, eager to please, over-sharing Angela, who is thrilled to be there. She’s brought her husband, taciturn ex-footballer Tony – who never uses three words when one will do and gives every impression of wanting to be anywhere but. Trapped in the mix is fretful divorcee Susan, the mother of the titular Abigail, who submits to the intrusive questions, unwanted advice, and gallons of gin and tonic with increasing resignation and despair.

The play is set in 1977. When Demis Roussos shared the charts with The Sex Pistols, a house cost £21,000, and cheese and pineapple on a stick was the ultimate party snack.