Cast Set For Noël Coward's THE MARQUISE UK Tour
The Noël Coward comedy originates at Theatre Royal Windsor before heading to Oxford Playhouse and beyond
Theatre Royal Windsor has announced casting for Noël Coward's The Marquise. The show will get a 1930s twist in this new production originating at Theatre Royal Windsor, from Wednesday 27 May – Saturday 6 June 2026, with a national press night on Monday 1 June, before touring to Oxford Playhouse (Tuesday 9 – Saturday 13 June), Theatre Royal Bath (Tuesday 16 – Sunday 20 June), Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Guildford (Tuesday 23 – Saturday 27 June) and The Arts Theatre Cambridge (Tuesday 30 June – Saturday 4 July).
When a widowed Count tries to marry off his daughter to the son of his Best Friend, it seems like a perfectly sensible plan. But with both young lovers secretly pining for others, their entangled affections cause chaos. Just as their scheme to break free begins, the Countess Raoul's former lover, the spirited Marquise Eloise de Kestournel, bursts back into their lives, wielding her wit and charm and turning their carefully laid plans upside down.
The cast features BAFTA Award-winning Juliet Aubrey (Middlemarch, BBC; Primeval, BBC) as ‘The Marquise Eloise de Kestournel', Simon Shepherd (Peak Practice, ITV; Casualty, BBC) as ‘Raoul de Vriaac', Tristan Gemmill (Coronation Street, ITV; Casualty, BBC) as ‘Esteban el Duco Santaguano', Albie Marber (Scenes on the Sand, Arcola, Donkey Heart, Old Red Lion / Trafalgar Theatre) as ‘Jaques Rijar', Eva O'Hara (Hollyoaks, Channel 4; The Great Gatsby, Theatre Royal Windsor) as ‘Adrienne'. They are joined by Martin Carroll (Richard II, The Bridge Theatre; Birdsong, UK Tour) as ‘Father Clement', Barnaby Tobias (The Great Gatsby, Theatre Royal Windsor; Cymbeline, Royal Shakespeare Company) as ‘Miguel', Lee Peck (Filumena, Theatre Royal Windsor; Sleuth, Bill Kenwright Ltd) as ‘Hubert / Understudy Jaques and Miguel', and Holly Smith (Just Between Ourselves, UK Tour; Killing Eve 2, Sid Gentle Films Ltd) as ‘Alice / Understudy Marquise', James Smalley (Cinderella, Theatre Royal Windsor; Romeo and Juliet, UK Tour' as ‘Understudy Hubert and Father Clement', and Amy Utting (The Secret Garden, The Ambassadors Theatre; Honk, Alexandra Theatre) as ‘Understudy Alice and Adrienne'.
A sparkling and sophisticated tale of old secrets, impulsive passion and eternal youth, the production is directed by Philip Wilson, with set and costume design by Colin Falconer, lighting design by Nick Richings, Sound Design by Andy Graham, and Associate Sound Design by Pierre Flasse.
The Marquise forms part of the Theatre Royal Windsor Season on Tour, comprising three productions originating at the theatre and touring the UK in 2026. It joins Graham Greene's Our Man in Havana, opening in July 2026, and the return of Royce Ryton's acclaimed thriller The Anastasia File, which opens in September 2026, before touring across the UK.
Theatre Director and Head of Venues for Bill Kenwright Ltd, Anne-Marie Woodley said, “We are proud to present our fifth consecutive Season, which has grown far beyond its Windsor beginnings and continues to attract increasing demand to tour. We are thrilled to welcome Philip Wilson as our Director for The Marquise, and we are especially excited by the exceptional calibre of our cast and creative team. With acclaimed performers including Juliet Aubrey, Simon Shepherd, Tristan Gemmill, and Eva O'Hara, supported by a superb ensemble of both returning and new talent, The Marquise is a production not to be missed!”
Theatre Royal Windsor sits at the heart of the town, carrying over 200 years of history behind its doors.
It is one of the UK's only year-round producing theatres operating without public funding. As part of The Bill Kenwright Group, Theatre Royal Windsor has built a reputation for standout productions and an ability to attract top tier talent to its stage — solidifying its position as one of Britain's leading regional theatres.
