Still feeling the pang of those seemingly never-ending New Year blues? Trudging on through those January doldrums in serious need of a pick-me-up?

Then look no further than Birmingham’s New Alexandra Theatre, where this month TV and Theatre favourite Jodie Prenger headlines a fantastic cast bringing Mike Leigh’s beloved comedy Abigail’s Party to the stage from 21 - 26 January.

One of the Nation’s most celebrated and iconic plays, Leigh’s witty, biting tour-de-force is a laugh-out-loud yet deeply human piece, centred around an intimate party being thrown by Beverly (Prenger) and husband Laurence (Midsommer Murders’ veteran Daniel Casey) for their newlywed neighbours, Tony and Angela. Joining them for the occasion is highly strung friend Susan (Harry Potter, Gimme Gimme Gimme) who has been banished from her teenage daughter Abigail’s own party.

Cue a delicious dip into 1970s suburbia, with its heady mix of free-flowing cocktails, classic disco and cheese and pineapple sticks.  As tensions rise and tempers flare the sheen of respectability is torn away by the warring couples with hilarious and potentially disastrous consequences. 

Described by The Guardian as ‘One of the greatest play about the human condition ever written’, this latest production boasts a fantastic cast of TV, Film and Theatre stalwarts - from the hugely popular Prenger, who shot to fame landing the role of Nancy in Oliver! after winning BBC One’s I’d Do Anything back in 2009, to Coronation Street and Emmerdale’s Vicky Binns, who famously departed the cobbles when her popular character Molly Dobbs was killed during the iconic 50th live episode when a tram spectacularly crashed onto the iconic street.

In the company of such classic as Frayn’s Noises Off and Christie’s The Mousetrap, Abigail’s Party is a must-see, distinctly British slice of theatre than any self-respecting theatregoer worth their salt should check off their list. 

It’s a fun, funny, sumptuously written and - with the cast assembled for this production - no doubt superbly performed, vignette of British comedy, and as the memories of Christmas and works parties being to fade (if they haven’t already!), will likely prove one of the few New Year’s party well worth attending.

ABIGAIL'S PARTY runs at the Birmingham New Alexandra Theatre from Monday 21 - Saturday 26 January 2019.

For tickets, including for other venues on the tour, click here.