Heaving bodices and dashing men bring a Georgian atmosphere to May in Bristol Old Vic’s summer comedy,

The Rivals. A play of hopelessly romantic notions, The Rivals was Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s dazzling first play; written when he was just 23, it drew from his own romantic experiences while living in Bath. With this elegant comedy of manners, Sheridan almost single-handedly revived the comic spirit of the Restoration, and turned traditional melodrama on its head. Sheridan went on to crown his success with The School For Scandal and The Critic, before abandoning his writing for a career in politics.  

Set in Bath, the play traces the path of true love for Captain Jack Absolute and the hopelessly romantic Lydia Languish who - prompted by an excessive indulgence in romantic fiction - desperately wants to fall in love with a humble soldier, not the inconveniently wealthy Captain.  Having realised Lydia’s intentions, Jack Absolute cunningly disguises himself as a poor ensign, and begins to enjoy their blossoming romance.  However, Lydia runs the risk of losing half her inheritance if she upsets her Aunt, the social-climbing “pineapple of politeness” Mrs Malaprop, whose spectacularly mangled language increases the confusion.

Rachel Kavanaugh directs at Bristol Old Vic for the first time, following recent success at Birmingham Rep with the David Hare Trilogy and The Wizard of Oz. She is reunited with designer Peter McKintosh and composer Terry Davies following their collaboration on The Merry Wives of Windsor (RSC and West End). They are joined by lighting designer Hartley T.A. Kemp, who recently designed Romeo and Juliet (RSC), sound designer Jason Barnes, whose previous work for Bristol Old Vic includes Loot, and choreographer Stuart Hopps.

Selina Cadell plays the legendary character Mrs Malaprop. Selina’s numerous television roles include DI Masterson in the BBC series Jonathan Creek, Murphy’s Law and The Brief. Recent theatre credits include Sam Mendes’ Uncle Vanya and Twelfth Night (Donmar Warehouse and New York), Noises Off (West End) and Nicholas Hytner’s production of The Madness of King George III (National Theatre). David Burke takes the role of the formidable English eccentric Sir Anthony Absolute. Perhaps best known as Dr Watson opposite Jeremy Brett’s Sherlock Holmes, he has recently appeared in Three Sisters (The Playhouse, London) and as Arthur Kipps in The Woman in Black (Fortune Theatre, West End).     

Lydia Languish is played by Anna Madeley, best known for her role as Nurse Samantha Beaumont in ITV’s The Royal. Her theatre credits include Ladybird (Royal Court theatre) and The Malcontent (RSC).  Captain Jack Absolute is played by Adam Rayner, who has appeared in This is Our Youth at the Garrick Theatre and in the television series At Home with the Braithwaites. The cast is completed by Paul Reynolds as Fag (Press Gang, Waking the Dead, Trevor’s World of Sport), Elizabeth Dermot-Walsh as Julia, Martin Hutson as Faulkland, Dylan Charles as Bob Acres, James Hayes as Sir Lucius O’Trigger, Carli Norris as Lucy, and Chris Bianchi as the Coachman.

This production is sponsored by Osborne Clarke. Mark Womersley, Head of Osborne Clarke's Bristol office said:

“As neighbours for over 250 years, Osborne Clarke and the theatre have always had a close association. We are very pleased to be able to support this production and regard Bristol Old Vic as an extremely important part of Bristol’s cultural heritage. It is a resource that everyone in the city should enjoy.”

performance times:
7.30pm Monday - Saturday
 2pm Thursday and Saturday matinee – from Thursday 20 May

 seat prices:
Evenings
£7 - £20 
concessions 
£5 - £18

Previews and matinees
£5 - £15
concessions
£5 - £13

Buy tickets for events:

Sponsors