Tracy-Ann Oberman stars in this new production of Noel Coward’s hilarious portrayal of the temptations of theatrical celebrity.
Tracy-Ann Oberman stars in a new production of Noel Coward's Present Laughter at the Grand Opera House York, which runs from Tuesday 6 October to Saturday 10 October 2026. It's a comedy about the temptations of theatrical celebrity, and Oberman takes the lead as Geri Essendine.
Essendine is a successful actress who's managed to keep her age at thirty-nine for nearly a decade. Her wit and charm have won her a legion of admirers and a circle of friends and acquaintances, and the play catches her just as she's about to leave for a tour of Africa. That's when she finds herself besieged by a series of suitors, her long-suffering secretary, her estranged husband, and a young playwright obsessed with her. The whole thing boils down to whether she can break free from these constant demands, and whether she actually wants to.
Oberman is well known from EastEnders, Doctor Who and Friday Night Dinner, and this marks her return to the stage after her acclaimed turn in The Merchant of Venice 1936. Directing is Lindsay Posner, who's behind West End hits like Noises Off with Felicity Kendal, A View From the Bridge with Dominic West and The Deep Blue Sea with Tamsin Greig.
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It's a paid production, with tickets available to buy for any of the performances between 6 and 10 October.
