Present Laughter
Noël Coward play following self-obsessed actor Garry Essendine as he prepares to go on tour to Africa
- Genre
- Comedy Drama
- Broadcast
- 2013
- Channel
- BBC Radio 4
- Episodes
- 1
- Writer
- Noël Coward
- Producer
- Celia De Wolff
Often thought of as semi-autobiographical, Noël Coward's Present Laughter follows a few days in the life of successful and self-obsessed actor Garry Essendine as he prepares to go on tour to Africa.
Amid a series of events bordering on farce, Garry must deal with interruptions including the numerous women who want to seduce him: a young aspiring actress, Daphne, and Joanna, who is the wife of his manager, Henry, and who is already having an affair with his producer, Morris.
He must also deal with placating his long-suffering secretary Monica, avoiding his estranged wife Liz Essendine, being confronted by the obsessed young playwright Roland Maule, and the unbearable inevitability of all that comes with turning 40!
- Production company
Broadcast details
- First broadcast
- Saturday 6th April 2013 on BBC Radio 4 at 2:30pm
- Episode length
- 90 minutes
- Last repeat
- Saturday 31st January 2015 at 2:30pm