Closex
Operated by The Society of London Theatre
Blithe Spirit
Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, LondonNoël Coward's 1941 comedy Blithe Spirit centres on novelist Charles Condomine and his second wife Ruth who are literally haunted by a past relationship when an eccentric medium manages to conjure up the ghost of Charles's neurotic first wife, Elvira, at a seance.
They have assumed the preposterous Madame Arcati is a fraud who will simply entertain their dinner guests with a little chicanery and supply Charles with material for his forthcoming novel. But when Elvira appears, visible only to Charles, and is detemined to sabotage his current marriage, life - and the afterlife - begin to get complicated.
In this production of Blithe Spirit, Madame Arcati is played by Alison Steadman, a Laurence Olivier Award-winning actress who was last seen in the West End in Alan Bennett's Enjoy. Her many screen appearances include the Mike Leigh films Abigail's Party, Topsy Turvy and Life Is Sweet, as well as the sitcomes Fat Friends and Gavin And Stacey.
Blithe Spirit director Thea Sharrock is one of Theatreland's rising stars who recent work includes productions of The Misanthrope, Equus and After The Dance.
For more about Blithe Spirit at the Apollo theatre read the First Night Feature or the Big Interview with Alison Steadman.
Cast & CreativesEXPAND
cast: Alison Steadman, Robert Bathurst, Hermione Norris, Ruthie Henshall, Jodie Taibi, Bo Poraj, Charlotte Thornton
director: Thea Sharrock
sound: Gregory Clarke
lighting designer: Mark Henderson
designer: Hildegard Bechtler
producer: Theatre Royal Bath
Ticket Prices:
£20-£49.50
About the show
- Age Suitability: General
- Genre: Play
- Sub-Genre: Play-Comedy
- Show Times: Mon-Sat 19:30, Mats Thu & Sat 14:30
- Duration: 2h30
- opening night:
- Box Office:
0844 412 4658 - Visit the Show Website
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NEWS
Wed 30 Jun 2010 11:22Steadman is Coward’s Blithe Spirit
Venue InformationHIDE
Apollo Theatre
Shaftesbury Avenue, London, United Kingdom, W1D 7EZ
- Nearest tube: Piccadilly Circus (250m)
- Nearest bus: 1, 14, 19, 22, 24, 29, 38, 55, 176
- Parking: Westminter City Council car park at China Town & Poland Street. NCP at Newport Place, Wardour Street or Denman Street. 2 accessible parking bays behind the theatre, in Winnett Street.
- Air conditioned: 0
- Download an Enabled Map
Venue Access InformationEXPAND
- How to book: Tel: 0844 412 4648 Minicom: 0207 087 7835
- Telephones: Public cash telephone in the Stalls bar.
- Discounts: available for all disabled people and their companions.
- Limited mobility: All of row O (especially O1, O2, O13 and O14) in the Stalls have very good leg room.
- Access description: 8cm step into the foyer through swing double doors. Box Office counter on the left. 22 steps down from foyer to Stalls, 12 up to the Dress Circle, with 2 steps between rows in the auditorium. 35 steps up to the Upper Circle and 75 to the Balcony. Handrails on both sides of the staircases. Stairlift to stalls access through double doors to the left of the upper circle entrance on Shaftesbury Avenue. Stairlift or 12 steps down to the stalls. Theatre open 30min before the start of the performance.
- Hearing impaired: Sennheiser infra-red system with limited number of head sets available. Avoid front 3 rows of Stalls. Deposit required.
- Guide dogs policy: Guide dogs allowed into the auditorium and staff are also available to dog sit. Dogs will be looked after in Stalls bar or in manager’s office. Maximum 2 dogs at a time.
- Wheelchairs: On arrival please report to the Main Entrance. A member of staff will then accompany you to the wheelchair access entrance on Shaftesbury Avenue where there is a platform lift to the Stalls level of the Auditorium. 2 spaces for wheelchair users in seats F1 and G1 in the Stalls. Wheelchair transferees can be accommodated in Stalls. Recommended seats are E1, H1 and J1 but other seats are available. Wheelchairs are stored near auditorium right Stalls level. Venue not suitable for scooters. Auditorium is carpeted with steep raking.
- Toilets: Adapted toilet to the rear of the Stalls level.
- Disabled toilets: Adapted toilet in the Stalls.
- Bars: Stalls and Upper Circle levels have bars. No access to bars for wheelchair users but staff members can bring drinks to you.
