A new stage adaptation of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel has hit the road for a UK tour which opened in Cheltenham last week, and is coming to Theatre Royal Plymouth from 18 – 22 April.
Based on the Sunday Times bestseller which inspired one of this century’s most treasured films, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel takes us on a journey to India with an eclectic group of British retirees as they embark on a new life. The luxury residence is far from the opulence they were promised, but as their lives begin to intertwine and they embrace the vibrancy of modern-day India, they are charmed in unexpected and life-changing ways.
Much-loved comedy actress Belinda Lang (ITV’s Second Thoughts; BBC 1’s 2point4 Children), Graham Seed, best known for his award-winning long-running performance as Nigel Pargetter in BBC Radio 4’s The Archers and Paola Dionisotti (HBO’s Game of Thrones, Florence Foster Jenkins and ITV’s Harbour Lights) will join stage and screen stars Paul Nicholas (Jesus Christ Superstar, BBC 1’s Just Good Friends, Eastenders, The Real Marigold Hotel) and Tessa Peake-Jones (Raquel in BBC 1’s Only Fools and Horses, ITV’s Grantchester) in Deborah Moggach’s celebrated show.
Belinda Lang is set to star as Madge, Graham Seed as Norman, Tessa Peake-Jones as Evelyn and Paola Dionisotti as Dorothy. Paul Nicholas continues in his role as Douglas from Tuesday 28 February 2023 when the play opens at the Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham.
They join Tiran Aakel (The Kite Runner, UK and Dubai Tour; Umm Kalthoum and The Golden Era, Dubai Opera House) who performs as Mr Gupta, Eileen Battye (The King and I, London Palladium; Barnum, Victoria Palace) as Jean; Rekha John-Cheriyan as Mrs Kapoor (Kerbs, Tomb Raider, Dream Horse); Paola Dionisotti (HBO’s Game of Thrones, Florence Foster Jenkins and ITV’s Harbour Lights) as Dorothy; Harmage Singh Kalirai (Mischief Night, A Very British Coup) as Jimmy; Shila Iqbal (East Is East, Octagon Theatre; Eaten by Lions); as Sahani, Kerena Jagpal (Mismatch and Twitch, Birmingham Rep; Circle Game, Southwalk Playhouse) as Kamila, Nishad More (King Lear, Royal Shakespeare Company) as Sonny Kapoor; Marlene Sidaway (ITV’s Coronation Street, BBC 1’s Pride and Prejudice) as Muriel; Anant Varman (who makes his professional UK stage debut with The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) as Mohan and Adam Morris (Dial M for Murder and The Messiah, UK Tours); Julie Wood (Brave New World, Harrogate Theatre) who join the company as male and female understudies.
Deborah Moggach adapts her bestselling novel 2004’s These Foolish Things for the stage, it previously having inspired the BAFTA and Golden Globe-nominated film. Directed by Lucy Bailey (Oleanna, UK Tour & West End); Gaslight, UK Tour; Witness for the Prosecution, London’s County Hall) the rest of the creative team comprises Costume and Set Designer, Colin Richmond; Lighting Designer, Oli Fenwick; Sound Designer, Mic Pool; Composer, Kuljit Bhamra; Casting Director, Ginny Schiller CDG; Associate Director, Breman Rajkumar; Movement Director, Lucy Hind; Costume Supervisor, Chris Cahill; Production Manager, Digby Robinson; Props Supervisor, Lizzie Frankl for Propworks and Associate Props Supervisor, Zoe Wilson.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a joyous, feel-good comedy about taking risks, finding love, and embracing second chances, even in the most surprising of places.
The film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (directed by John Madden) saw its UK theatrical release in 2012. Within two weeks of its cinematic distribution, the film had topped the UK Box Office and went on to become a hit internationally performing as one of the highest-grossing films of 2012 in Australia and New Zealand in addition to the United Kingdom.
The interwoven stories of the film’s stellar ensemble, which included Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith, Penelope Wilson, Tom Wilkinson, Celie Imrie, and Ronald Pickup – with Dev Patel as the put-upon owner of a past-its-best hotel for ‘the elderly and beautiful’ – shone a light on issues such as the outsourcing of care and NHS treatments, the complexity of family relationships around the world, love, compassion, and companionship in our twilight years.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is produced by Simon Friend, Jenny King, Trafalgar Entertainment, and Gavin Kalin.
Get ready for the journey of a lifetime.