The Noël Coward Collection

Coward explores the darker side of the cocktail party set. Emotional blackmail, drug abuse, and shattered relationships are minutely observed in this disturbing, early piece from a playwright whose sharp eye was usually more turned towards the light.

Divorced couple Amanda and Elyot have both recently remarried. On their honeymoons, however, they discover that they have accidentally booked adjoining suites at the same hotel. Containing some of Coward's best dialogue, the play revolves around the agonizing realization that despite their ferocious incompatibility, they are still drawn to each other.

Set in Paris, Otto and Leo both fall in love with Gilda. She cannot make up her mind which man she loves, so the three decide to live together in platonic friendship. Amongst Coward's trademark sparkling wit, the play explores deeper themes including infidelity, the pressures of fame on an unstable mind, and the morality (or immorality) of a menage a trois.

A gentle satire on the contrasting manners of visiting colonials and London society. "Piggie" Gilpin is enjoying a few days leave when the dreadful Wadhurst arrive.

George and Lilly Pepper are a husband and wife variety act whose bickering about old grievances in their dressing room results in the manager threatening their contract at the theater.

Celebrated psychiatrist Christian Faber and his wife Barbara have an ordered, comfortable life...until the arrival of an old school friend upends the apple cart.

It's autumn in 1860, and everyone is gathered to hear the family's will. But then the truth comes out which must never be repeated outside the family circle.

Set in 1936, Fumed Oak is an unpleasant comedy based on the "worm will turn" theme and boasts one of Noel Coward's favorite creations., Henry Gow.

A theater outing has an unusual effect on Victoria: She suspects Simon will leave her, and her suspicion haunts her troubled dreams. The action set in 1935 flits between past, present, and future.

The simple love story of three contrasting couples, set in the unromantic surroundings of the Milford Junction Station refreshment room. Coward later developed this play into the 1945 film Brief Encounter.

An English novelist is besieged by his hosts on an American tour in this comedy of ill manners.

Often regarded as semi-autobiographical, Present Laughter follows a few days in the life of successful and self-obsessed actor Garry Essendine as he prepares to travel for a touring commitment. Amid a series of events bordering on farce, Garry must deal with interruptions including the numerous women who want to seduce him, placating his long-suffering secretary Monica Reed, avoiding his estranged wife Liz Essendine, being confronted by a crazed young playwright, and overcoming his fear of his own approaching fortieth birthday and impending mid-life crisis.

Enormously successful writer Sir Hugo Latymer has a tryst with the past not altogether to his liking. This bittersweet comedy is the story of a cosmopolitan author caught in his declining years between two women, one being his wife of convenience for twenty years, the other, one of his former lovers.

A rich cornhusker and his social climbing wife find themselves in the company of royalty. While the wife is entertaining a high and mighty prince downstairs, the husband is entertaining a threadbare princess upstairs. It doesn't take long for the husband to realize he has more in common with royalty than his wife does.

Set in a British country house in the 1920s Hay Fever follows the outlandish behavior of the Bliss family when they each invite a guest to spend the weekend. Best described as a cross between high farce and comedy of manners, Hay Fever is one of Coward's most popular plays.

Lorraine Barrie, a fading but brilliant actress with a penchant for manipulaing every theatrical endevour to her best advantage, meets her match when she must trust her success to an equally wilful stage director.

Sweet Hilda Capper spends her birthday fending off the well-meaning intrusions of family and friends.

George Banks (Sir Tom Courtenay) recalls his past life travelling in charge of a dancing troupe.

Roddy and Lola Strike up a romance on the cruise liner SS Mara as it heads to Hong Kong from San Francisco.

Eustace (Sir Ian Holm) and Dorrie Edgehill (Dame Judi Dench) have decided to leave Samola, a British protectorate in the Pacific. After the failure of his latest harebrained scheme no one is likely to give Eustace a job now. Or are they?