Relatively Speaking

5:03pm Wednesday 28th May 2008

A new production of Alan Ayckbourn's hit comedy Relatively Speaking opens at the Theatre Royal Bath from Tuesday, starring Peter Bowles and Diane Fletcher.

Greg wants to marry Ginny, but she seems unduly reluctant for him to meet her mother and father. His suspicions further aroused by mysterious telephone calls, incessant bouquets of flowers, boxes of chocolates, and a pair of incriminating slippers under her bed - he follows her to her parents' house in Buckinghamshire.

Philip and Sheila are enjoying a peaceful Sunday morning breakfast in the garden but Greg's arrival swiftly disturbs the rural tranquility and dizzying confusion soon reigns.

Beautifully crafted, wonderfully funny and charmingly English, Relatively Speaking was Alan Ayckbourn's first great West End success and turned him into a household name. When it opened at the Duke of York's Theatre in 1967, the critics hailed the arrival of a great new comic talent. This new production directed by Alan Strachan stars Peter Bowles as Philip and Diane Fletcher as Sheila.

Peter Bowles is one of Britain's most distinguished actors, having achieved national recognition for his starring roles in television's To The Manor Born, The Bounder, Perfect Scoundrels, The Irish RM and Only When I Laugh. His numerous stage roles include his acclaimed performance in Simon Gray's The Old Masters in the West End, and his previous appearances at the Theatre Royal Bath include, most recently, Our Song in 2003 and The Unexpected Man in 2005.

Diane Fletcher appeared as Mrs Lintott in the National Theatre's multi-award-winning production of Alan Bennett's The History Boys, and received acclaim for her recent role as Clare Short in Called to Account at the Tricycle Theatre.

Diane has worked extensively on stage and in television; after training at RADA she made her television debut playing the leading role in The Visitors for the BBC.

Her many West End credits have included The Winslow Boy, An Inspector Calls and Titania in A Midsummer Night's Dream for Regents Park.

Her TV roles have been many and varied, including House of Cards, The Irish RM, Poirot, Coronation Street, The Wilderness Years, Heartbeat, Midsomer Murders, Kingdom and Doctors.

The cast of Relatively Speaking also includes Robin Whitling as Greg and Siobhan Hewlett as Ginny.

Box Office (01225) 448844