★★★★ “A sparkling revival of Somerset Maugham’s comedy of manners…certainly no shortage of laughterThe Times

★★★★ “Littler’s debut production as artistic director at the Orange Tree is strongly acted and nicely judgedThe Guardian 

★★★★ “Nimbly combines humour with pain…a wonderfully waspish productionThe Stage

★★★★★ “All of the cast shine…if you love good theatre, you need to put this production of The Circle in your diaryLondon Living Large

★★★★ “Laugh out loud…an elegant exploration of social conventions and hidden passionsTheatre Weekly

 

Only Cairo will push you to your absolute limits and then suddenly…you’re in love. How does this city do that?

Jane Asher (Alfie, Deep End) plays Lady Kitty, a society beauty who notoriously abandoned her stuffy husband Clive, played by Clive Francis (A Clockwork Orange, The Crown), and eloped with the handsome Lord Porteous, played by Nicholas Le Prevost (Shakespeare in Love, Testament of Youth). 

Thirty years later, love’s young dream has descended into non-stop squabbling… Meanwhile, Clive and Lady Kitty’s son Arnold (Pete Ashmore, The Lovely Bones, Brief Encounter) faces the same marital fate, as his wife Elizabeth, played by Olivia Vinall (The Woman in White, Apple Tree Yard) threatens to elope with the dashing Teddie Luton (Chirag Benedict Lobo, Life of Pi; The Winter’s Tale).

 

Will history come full circle? Or can one generation learn from their parents’ disastrous mistakes? 

 

Production photos by Ellie Kurttz

 
 

Cast

Lady Catherine Champion-Cheney                                                 Jane Asher

Arnold Champion-Cheney  Pete Ashmore

Clive Champion-Cheney         Clive Francis

Lord Hughie Porteous                  Nicholas Le Prevost

Teddie Luton                                     Chirag Benedict Lobo

Murray                                             Robert Maskell

Elizabeth Champion-Cheney        Olivia Vinall

Creatives

Director Tom Littler
Designer Louie Whitemore
Lighting Designer Chris McDonnell
Sound Designer Max Pappenheim
Assistant Director Sam Woof
Deputy Stage Manager Vicky Zenetzi
Assistant Stage Manager Lily Collins
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