Abigail's Party
by Mike Leigh

Abigail's Party Book Cover
Abigail's Party Cover

Highlights

120 mins Present Day Ensemble Cast Interior Set Period Costumes British Comedy

Awards & Recognition

Olivier Award

Named among the "10 most influential postwar British plays" by Guardian UK ! Nominee: 2003 Olivier Award for Best Revival of a Play Winner! 2013 Whatsonstage.com Award, Best Play Revival

What readers are saying

Readers appreciate the depth and context of Abigail's Party, often citing its engaging script and character development. Many love the play's nostalgic value and find it enjoyable for both reading and performance. Some note discrepancies in the physical quality of the script but maintain admiration for the play itself.

Engaging script Deep character development Nostalgic value Physical quality issues noted

Synopsis

British suburbanites Laurence and Beverly are entertaining their new neighbors, Angela and Tony as well as Susan, whose teenage daughter, Abigail is having a party to which Susan has been dis-invited.

Over drinks and snacks, cliches and fatuous small talk abound.

Press Reviews

"A brutally accurate portrait of people who link ownership with status and who surround themselves with expensive objects...for which they have no practical use... An almost Strindbergian vision of marital loathing."

— Guardian UK

Characters

Character
Laurence
Angela
Tony
Susan
Beverly

Videos

Abigail's Party in rehearsal

Publication

Publisher Samuel French
Year 1979
Binding Paperback
Pages 110
Place London
Language English
ISBN-13 9780573110160
ISBN-10 0573110166
LCCN 80478065
LCC PR6062.E4457 A63
DCC 822/.914

Abigail's Party is a British comedy play written by Mike Leigh and published by Samuel French in London (1979).

Digital editions available on Amazon Kindle .

Community Reviews

No community reviews yet

Rating

3.4

213 ratings · 85 reviews

Review

Buy Play

Performance Rights

Available for Licensing
Amateur Only
Fee: Minimum Fee: $130 per performance

Restrictions: Major Markets Only (US) / Standard Restriction (UK)

Apply for Rights

Similar Plays

Plays with similar themes, style, and content.

More from Mike Leigh

More plays from Mike Leigh that we think you'll enjoy.