Tonight at 8.30
Noël Coward
A cycle of ten short one-act plays ranging from comedies and musicals to serious dramas intended to be performed in groups of three. This innovative format allowed Coward and Gertrude Lawrence to showcase their versatility across a wide range of characters. Famous segments include 'Still Life' (which became the film Brief Encounter) and 'Red Peppers' a music hall pastiche. The collection is a celebration of the short play form and Coward's mastery of different theatrical genres.
Various: Characters range from bickering vaudeville performers to tragic lovers in a provincial railway station cafe.
First Performance: 1936, at Phoenix Theatre, London
A triumphant success; the variety of the plays and the virtuosity of the lead performers were highly praised.
Original Actors: Noël Coward, Gertrude Lawrence