Full Casting Announced For Menier Chocolate Factory's ABIGAIL'S PARTY

Full casting has been announced for the Menier Chocolate Factory's production of Abigail's Party - and joining Jill Halfpenny as Beverly will be Joe Absolom as Tony, Natalie Casey as Angela, Susannah Harker as Susan, and Andy Nyman as Laurence.

Jill Halfpenny won a 2011 Olivier award for her role as Paulette in Legally Blonde (Savoy). Other theatre credits include Calendar Girls (Noel Coward) and Chicago (Adelphi). She is also well known for her TV roles on EastEnders, Waterloo Road and Blue Murder, and will soon be seen as Fiona Lynch in Wild At Heart.

Joe Absolom is best known for his TV roles as Matthew Rose in EastEnders and Al Large in Doc Martin alongside Martin Clunes. Joe has also appeared in the TV series Ashes To Ashes, New Tricks and Vincent. His films include Extreme Ops (Paramount) and Long Time Dead (Working Title).

Natalie Casey’s television credits include Hollyoaks and Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps. Most recently she appeared as Paulette in Legally Blonde (Savoy). Previous theatre credits include The Invisible Man (Menier Chocolate Factory), Well (Trafalgar Studios / Apollo) and Oklahoma! (Chichester).

Susannah Harker is best known for her role as Jane in the acclaimed BBC production of Pride and Prejudice and the TV series House of Cards. Theatre credits include The Little Platoons (Bush), Jingo (Finborough) and On the Shore of the Wide World (Royal Exchange and NT).

Andy Nyman was last seen at the Chocolate Factory in the world premiere of Saul Rubinek’s Terrible Advice. Previous theatre credits include Ghost Stories (Lyric Hammersmith / Duke of York’s), Moonlight and Magnolias (Tricycle), Saturday Sunday Monday (Chichester) and Lust (Theatre Royal Haymarket). His films include Death at a Funeral, Severance, The Tournament and Wayne’s World II.

Lindsay Posner directs fresh from a string of plaudits for his production of Noises Off at the Old Vic. Other recent West End productions include Butley (Duchess), An Ideal Husband (Vaudeville), A View from the Bridge (Duke of York’s – Olivier nomination) and Fiddler on the Roof (Savoy – Olivier nomination).