The Proteans Present: Hay Fever by Noel Coward

The Proteans return to Basingstoke's 'best-kept secret' the Walled Garden in Down Grange, for another of their popular performances of classic plays. For July 2024 The Proteans present Hayfever, Noel Coward's brilliantly effervescent comedy! Noël Coward wrote this brilliantly effervescent comedy of bad manners in three days when he was just 24. A fabulous, sparkling tale of a weekend in an English country house with a family of bohemians, it has lost none of it's charm since its first staging in 1924.

Judith Bliss is a famous West End actress, technically retired. Husband David churns out romantic novels. Their grown-up children – Simon and Sorel – resolutely refuse to grow up. The pathologically self-absorbed Blisses invite a quartet of hapless guests for the week-end; cue outrageous flirting, brilliant one-liners and near Olympic levels of very British rudeness. Clearly an inspiration for everything from the screwball comedies of Howard Hawkes to the recent obsessions of 'Saltburn' and 'Downton Abbey' ; this is a satirical look at the self absorbed English upper classes.

Hay Fever has something for everyone; a delirious roller-coaster of a play, encased in wit, comedy and plenty of satire. Pack a picnic and join us in the Walled Garden for a great afternoon of classic comedy and (hopefully) great British sunshine!!!