Catch the struggles of raising a child with special needs in this revival of Peter Nichols' black humour masterpiece. Follow the story of Bri and Sheila as they try to keep their marriage from falling apart due to the difficulties the family is going through. Relish an evening of dark comedy in a serious story.
Why Watch A Day in the Death of Joe Egg
Why Watch A Day in the Death of Joe Egg
Originally written by Peter Nichols in 1967, the play tackles very serious themes, albeit in a comical manner. The effects of raising a handicapped child on the parents’ marriage are clearly outlined. Most of Nichols’ plays are autobiographical in nature. A Day in the Death of Joe Egg is based on his own experiences of raising a child with special needs. His other popular plays, Privates on Parade is based on his military days, while The National Health draws on his experiences during a hospital admittance. A star-studded cast led by Toby Stephens, Claire Skinner, and Patricia Hodge is all set to take the stage at West End. Stephens is a well-established actor, having played numerous leading roles in Royal Shakespeare Company productions. Skinner is an Olivier and BAFTA-nominated actress whose credits include The Glass Menagerie, Nightfall, and the BBC TV series Outnumbered. Hodge is a BAFTA and Olivier Award-winning actress, who is most famous for her role in the wildly popular series Miranda. Peter Nichols’ play was initially a shocker during its release in 1967. Treating the subject of the infirmary as a comedy was unheard of in those days. Nichols’ ability to bring the characters to life, especially when the main character confesses his deepest and darkest thoughts to the audience as if they are his confidante, is spectacularly done.
The Story
Bri and Sheila are a married couple who have a 10-year old daughter, Josephine. Josephine, suffers from cerebral palsy, as a result of which she is paralyzed and is unable to communicate. She requires round-the-clock care, and this demand is putting a great deal of stress on Bri and Sheila’s marriage. Sheila finds an outlet for her difficulties through theatre and dramatics. She attempts to give Josephine as good a life as she can. Bri, on the other hand, finds it more difficult to keep up with the struggle and begins to entertain dark thoughts. He relives all their interactions with doctors and vicars in the form of dark humour. Soon, however, he realizes that humour is not going to help solve their problems and he is confronted with the harsh reality.
Good For
Fans of Peter Nichols | Lovers of Dark Humor
Annuleringsbeleid
Annuleringsbeleid
Deze tickets kunnen niet geannuleerd of verschoven worden.
Know Before You Go
Know Before You Go
Show Details
Performances are held from the 21st of September until the 30th of November, 2019. There will be no performance on the 2nd of October.
There will be an audio described performance on the 6th of November at 7:30 PM and a Touch Tour at 6 PM. A Captioned performance will also be available, on the 12th of November, at 7:30 PM.
Show Timings
Monday | 7:30 PM | Tuesday | 7:30 PM | Wednesday | 7:30 PM | Thursday | 2:30 PM, 7:30 PM | Friday | 7:30 PM |
Saturday | 2:30 PM, 7:30 PM |
Duration
To be confirmed
Cast
Toby Stephens as Bri
Claire Skinner as Sheila
Patricia Hodge as Grace
Directed by
Playwright
Peter Nichols
Additional Info
Photo and video recording are not allowed during the show.
The show contains the smoking of herbal cigarettes.
Audience
Recommended for ages 12 and up.
Available Facilities
Wheelchair Accessible
In House Bar
Coat Check
Seating
Trafalgar Studios has a seating capacity of 380.
Dress Code
Smart and casual wear is recommended. Keep in mind, the theater is air conditioned throughout the year and can get a bit chilly.
Mijn kaartjes
Mijn kaartjes
Your booking confirmation will be sent via email. Please display the ticket on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the Box Office of the theatre.