“Must-see”, “perfect”, “hysterics” – audiences and critics have been laughing their way through Sexy Laundry at the Tabard Theatre since the comedy opened at the Chiswick venue in early November. Find out what they’ve been saying below, then book tickets to find out for yourself!
The UK premiere of Sexy Laundry, which runs at the Tabard Theatre until 25 November, follows a couple whose 25-year marriage has slipped into somewhat of a rut as they attempt to rediscover their youthful passion.
Checking into a trendy spa hotel, Alice and Henry are on a mission; to jump start their 25-year marriage. Time has taken its toll – so have kids, stress and gravity. Hoping to rekindle their flagging sex life, Alice and Henry stumble through their fantasies, finding that flaming the fires of passion is not as simple as making a hotel reservation. Can they embrace all the wild suggestions from their marriage-saving quick start guide? What develops is a laugh-out-loud romantic comedy as the couple discover themselves and their marriage all over again.
Michele Riml’s global smash hit was first staged at the Belfry Theatre in Victoria, Canada in 2004. It has since become one of the country’s most popular plays of recent years. In addition to running widely across Canada, productions of Riml’s play have been staged in the US, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Slovenia, Germany, Mexico, Iceland and Poland, where it continues to run in rep after more than 300 performances. A treatment for a sitcom based on Sexy Laundry is in development, while it also sparked a sequel, Henry and Alice: Into the Wild.
Riml began her playwriting career at the age of 17, when her play, Souvenirs, won the British Columbia Young Playwrights Search. She has written 14 plays, including Poster Boy, Miss Teen and RAGE.
Phoebe Barran returns to the Tabard Theatre to direct Sexy Laundry, which is produced by Sightline Entertainment and Empire Theatrical Productions. Barran previously directed thriller Tryst, starring Natasha Barnes, and The Duke in Darkness at the Chiswick venue.
Felicity Duncan, whose credits include Anyone Can Whistle and Lear at the Union Theatre, plays Alice, with Nick Raggett as Henry.