HYSTERIA by Terry Johnson Comes to Greenwich Theatre this Week

London Class Theatre, the touring company behind recent acclaimed productions of Ayckbourn's Absent Friends and Beckett's Waiting For Godot, is back at Greenwich Theatre from April 27-29 with the comic version of Sigmund Freud's meeting for tea with Salvador Dali in Hampstead in 1938.

It definitely did happen but possibly not as hilariously as Terry Johnson's Hysteria would suggest.

"I've been interested in Terry Johnson's plays since the original production of Dead Funny in 1993 and I've been itching to do one ever since," said director Michael Cabot, who also directed Henry Naylor's The Collector at Greenwich Theatre earlier this year.

"I always thought Hysteria would be particularly challenging but then, about a year ago, I thought, why not, let's give it a go. We've been on the road for nine weeks and I think it's gone very well. Now we're on the home straight."

His company has been a regular at Greenwich since Abigail's Party. "We've been back three or four times, including Alan Ayckbourn's Absent Friends," said Michael. "It's a favourite venue of mine because it's very difficult for touring companies to have a regular venue in London, but Greenwich works with big and small shows and remains an intimate space.

"Also, as a touring company we're often a long way from home so with Greenwich it's always nice to be able to invite friends and family on that stop on the tour."

Freud (Ged McKenna) is on his last legs at the time of Dali's (John Dorney) visit, and the arrival of feisty student Jessica (Summer Strallen) and hapless physician Dr Yahuda (Moray Treadwell) is hardly what the doctor ordered.

"Hysteria is broadly a farce," said Michael. "You've got the naked girl in the closet and Dali prancing around in his underpants with doors slamming and people disappearing, but it's also a strong emotional story with comedy and tragedy in the same room.

"One thing you notice on tour is how different the audiences can be. Some are quietly appreciative while others go for the belly laughs. I love seeing it in different places to see how people respond to a very funny but also a very poignant play.

"We try and approach every new production in the same spirit, almost as if classic plays are new plays we're doing for the first time. One result, I think, is that venues like Greenwich start to trust us as a company and accept it when we try things that are more adventurous."

James Haddrell, Greenwich Theatre's artistic and executive director, said: "Michael Cabot regularly brings shows to Greenwich and the work of London Classic Theatre is a really important part of our programming. I booked them in my first year at Greenwich Theatre with Abigail's Party and it became the best-selling one week booking we'd ever had. We've already had fantastic ticket sales for Hysteria so we're looking forward to a great run."

1938. Hampstead, London. In Terry Johnson's hilarious farce, Sigmund Freud has fled Nazi-occupied Austria and settled in leafy Swiss Cottage. The ageing Freud intends to spend his last days in peaceful contemplation but, when Salvador Dali pays a visit and discovers a naked woman in the closet, eye-popping mayhem ensues.
An acknowledged modern classic, Hysteria explores the fallout when two of the twentieth century's most brilliant and original minds collide.

Terry Johnson is one of the UK's most celebrated contemporary playwrights. His notable successes include Mrs Henderson Presents, Dead Funny, Insignificance, TheGraduate and Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle & Dick. Hysteria won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Comedy in 1994.

London Classic Theatre is one of the UK's leading touring theatre companies. Recent successes include national tours of The Birthday Party by Harold Pinter, WaitingforGodot by Samuel Beckett and Alan Ayckbourn's Absent Friends.

*Hysteria - Greenwich Theatre, Thursday, April 27-29. Evenings 7.30pm; Saturday matinee, 2.30pm. For tickets and more information go to www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk or call 020 8858 4447.