The Good Life to become a stage show

Monday 27th January 2020, 11:24am

The Good Life. Image shows from L to R: Barbara Good (Felicity Kendal), Tom Good (Richard Briers), Margo Leadbetter (Penelope Keith), Jerry Leadbetter (Paul Eddington). Copyright: BBC
  • The Good Life is to be made into a new stage show
  • It'll run at Theatre Royal Bath from Thursday 4th June - Saturday 20th June 2020
  • Katherine Parkinson will play Barbara Good, with further casting to be announced later

Classic sitcom The Good Life is to be made into a new stage show, premiering at Theatre Royal Bath as part of their 2020 Summer Season.

John Esmonde and Bob Larbey's iconic sitcom premise is being adapted for the stage by Jeremy Sams, who has previously worked on Noises Off, the production Spend, Spend, Spend and the international tour of The Sound of Music.

The producers say: "Remember the Goods - Tom and Barbara, suburban eco-warriors? And their next-door neighbours Margo and Jerry Leadbetter, desperately trying to maintain the Surbiton status quo?

"Well, they're back - and on stage for the first time in The Good Life, a theatrical reimagining of the much-loved TV series which won millions of ardent viewers. This new play celebrates a time when, whatever our differences, we still managed to get on with our neighbours."

The play will feature newly created stories alongside some of the TV sitcom's classic moments. The producers confirm: "Jeremy Sams' play leads the much-loved characters (not forgetting Geraldine the goat) through various adventures, some old, some new, all hilarious and often, even today, worryingly familiar."

The TV sitcom, which ran on BBC TV from 1975 to 1978 starred Richard Briers and Felicity Kendal as Tom and Barbara Good, and Paul Eddington and Penelope Keith as their middle-class neighbours Jerry and Margo Leadbetter.

It's been confirmed that The IT Crowd and Doc Martin star Katherine Parkinson will take on the role of Barbara. She has previously appeared at Theatre Royal Bath in Home, I'm Darling and Uncle Vanya.

Casting for the other key roles has yet to be announced.

The new production will run at Theatre Royal Bath from Thursday 4th June - Saturday 20th June. Tickets are available via theatreroyal.org.uk

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