NOT: LADY CHATTERLY'S LOVER Announces UK Tour

Happy Idiot Production's subversive parody Not: Lady Chatterley's Lover will bring a fresh twist to DH Lawrence's classic story this autumn. Writer Lawrence Russell (Comedy Dinner Shows) has given this scandalous story the Mel Brooks treatment, with the help of acclaimed artists Simon Godwin (Associate Director, National Theatre), Stephen Harper (Told By An Idiot), and Laurence Pears (The Play That Goes Wrong). Comedy pedigree is also provided by script development partner Annie Sertich, a Groundlings main company member, whose alumni include Lisa Kudrow, Kristen Wiig, Will Ferrell and Melissa McCarthy.

Lord Chatterley returns to Wragby Hall confined to a wheelchair and clutching his secret. Despite her husband's newfound impotence, a subject that everyone struggles to avoid, Lady Chatterley entertains the idea that one day they could have a child. But, as the couple drift apart, she embarks on a passionate and curiously experimental affair with Mellors, the estate gamekeeper. This laughter-filled parody will bring you high drama, high comedy and highly-raised eyebrows.

The cast includes Christina Baston (House on Haunted Hill, Pleasance Dome Edinburgh; Tales From Star City, Kings Head/The Tabard Theatre; As Wine Flows, US/Europe Tour), Wesley Griffith (Not: Lady Chatterley's Lover, UK Tour; Importance of Being Earnest, Minack Theatre), Rebecca McClay (Private Lives of The Tudors, Yesterday; 50 Ways To Kill Your Lover, Discovery; Not: Lady Chatterley's Lover, UK Tour) and Lawrence Russell (Eastenders, BBC; Superhoe, BBC, Breaking the Band, ITV).

Not: Lady Chatterley's Lover is a saucy take which honours the original story, with some added surprise twists. There will be long contemplative looks into the middle distance, moments of touching drama, plenty of farce and a gentle stroke of innuendo. Happy Idiot's inventive storytelling explores the novel's themes of female sexuality, disability and loneliness, with the watertight pace and perfect comic timing which earned them five-star reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe 2017.

Writer Lawrence Russell comments There are so many incredibly high-stakes moments in the book that, with a few twists, exaggerations and undercutting of the bleak themes, you can create countless laugh out loud moments. I'm really proud that we've been able to incorporate integrated audio description and creative captioning as standard for every show, meaning that those who have difficulties with their hearing or sight will get the jokes at the same time as everyone else! Taking a well-loved story and effortlessly moving between touching moments and perfectly timed comedy means the team have made something that shouldn't be missed.

This production is made possible with the kind permission of Lesley Pollinger, Paper Lion Ltd as Trustee for The Estate of Frieda Lawrence Ravagli.

DATES:

17th September

Connaught Theatre, Worthing

Union Place, Worthing, BN11 1LG

https://wtam.uk/events

18th - 19th September

Royal Spa Centre, Leamington

Newbold Terrace, Leamington Spa, CV32 4HN

https://www.warwickdc.gov.uk/royalspacentre

20th September

The Castle Theatre, Wellingborough

Castle Way, Wellingborough, NN8 1XA

https://www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk/castle-theatre/

22nd September

Middlesbrough Theatre

The Avenue, Middlesbrough, TS5 6SA

https://www.middlesbroughtheatre.co.uk/

23rd September

Stamford Arts Centre

7 St Mary's Street, Stamford, PE9 2DL

https://www.stamfordartscentre.com/

24th - 25th September

Corn Exchange, Newbury

Market Place, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 5BD

https://cornexchangenew.com/

26th September

Chipping Norton Theatre

2 Spring Street, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire OX7 5NL https://www.chippingnortontheatre.com/

28th September

The Core Theatre, Solihull

Theatre Square, Touchwood, Homer Road, B91 3RG

https://www.thecoretheatresolihull.co.uk/

1st October

Cornerstone Arts Centre

25 Station Road, Didcot, OX11 7NE

https://www.cornerstone-arts.org/

2nd October

The Berry Theatre, Eastleigh

Wildern Lane, Hedge End, Southampton SO30 4EJ

https://www.theberrytheatre.co.uk/

4th - 6th October

White Rock Theatre, Hastings

White Rock, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 1JX

https://whiterocktheatre.org.uk/Online/default.asp

8th October

Theatre Royal Wakefield

Drury Lane, Wakefield, WF1 2TE

https://www.theatreroyalwakefield.co.uk/

9th October

Helmsley Arts Centre

Meeting House Ct, Helmsley, York, YO62 5DW

https://www.helmsleyarts.co.uk/

10th October

Pyramid Arts Centre, Warrington

Palmrya Square, Warrington, WA1 1BL

https://pyramid.culturewarrington.org/whats-on/

12th October

Theatr Colwyn

Abergele Road, Colwyn Bay, LL29 7RU

https://theatrcolwyn.co.uk/shows/

13th October

Royal Hall, Harrogate

Oxford Street, Harrogate, HG1 1QF

https://www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk/

14th October

The Swan Theatre, Worcester Live

Huntingdon Hall, Crown Gate, Worcester, WR1 3LD

http://www.worcesterlive.co.uk/events.asp

15th October

Albany Theatre, Coventry

Albany Road, Coventry, CV5 6JQ

https://www.albanytheatre.co.uk/

17th - 18th October

Palace Theatre, Newark

Appletongate, Newark, NG24 1JY

https://www.palacenewarktickets.com/

19th October

Chelmsford Civic

Fairfield Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1JG

https://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/theatres/

20th October

Key Theatre, Peterborough

Haig Hall, Brook Street, Peterborough, PE1 1TU

https://vivacity.org/

21st October

Elgiva Theatre, Chesham

St Mary's Way, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, HP5 1HR

https://elgiva.com/shows/

22nd October

Theatre Royal Winchester

21-23 Jewry Street, Winchester, SO23 8SB

https://www.theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk/

26th October

Forum Theatre, Barrow in Furness

28 Duke Street, Barrow-In-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 1HH

https://www.theforumbarrow.co.uk/

3rd November

Forum Theatre Billingham

Queensway, Stockton-on-Tees, TS23 2LJ

https://forumtheatrebillingham.co.uk/

4th - 5th November

The Atkinson, Southport

Lord Street, Southport, PR8 1DB

https://www.theatkinson.co.uk/

7th November

Howden Park Centre, Livingston

Howden, Livingston, West Lothian, EH54 6AE

http://www.howdenparkcentre.co.uk/

8th November

Tyne Theatre and Opera House

117 Westgate Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 4AG

https://tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk/

13th November

Darwen Library Theatre

Knott Street, Darwen, BB3 3BU

https://bwdvenues.com/

14th November

Brierley Hill Civic Hall

Bank Street, Brierley Hill, West Midlands, DY5 3DH https://www.bhillcivic.co.uk/whats-on/

16th November

Hazlitt Theatre, Maidstone

Earl St, Maidstone ME14 1PL

https://www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk/Hazlitt-Theatre/

18th November

Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe

Ilfracombe, EX34 9BZ

https://www.queenstheatre-barnstaple.com/

20th November

Trinity Theatre, Tunbridge Wells

Church Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 1JP

https://www.trinitytheatre.net/

21st November

The Civic Stourport

Martins Way, Stourport-on-Severn, DY13 8UJ

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/thecivic/