How the Other Half Loves tickets
About How the Other Half Loves
Don’t miss How the Other Half Loves, Alan Ayckbourn’s classic domestic comedy starring Roger Allam and Dorothy Atkinson at The Old Vic. Book How the Other Half Loves tickets on TodayTix.
How the Other Half Loves in London presents us with Fiona Foster and Bob Phillips, who have a mighty big problem on their hands. Their spouses suspect they’re having affairs. Their solution is seemingly even worse, as they use the unsuspecting Featherstones as their alibi, pulling innocent people into their tangled web of lies and deception. Three couples are trapped in an escalating nightmare as the lies only seem to grow.
Roger Allam stars as Frank Foster, with Dorothy Atkinson as Fiona Foster, Ayesha Antoine as Teresa Phillips, Rowan Polonski as Bob Phillips, Laura Elsworthy as Mary Featherstone, and Adam Gillen as William Featherstone.
Directed by Phillip Breen, this Old Vic revival returns Ayckbourn’s comedy to the in-the-round staging it was written for.
Run time
2hr 20min. Incl. Interval.
Venue
Categories
Age
Ages 12+.
Start date
29th July, 2026
End date
19th September, 2026
“Laugh-out-loud British farce with impeccable comic timing”
A Brilliantly Acted Revival of Classic Farce
This revival of Alan Ayckbourn's 1969 comedy delivers relentless laughs through its ingenious staging of two households occupying the same set simultaneously. Audiences consistently praise the excepti...
What It Feels Like
- Hilariously chaotic
- Cleverly staged
- Old-school fun
You’ll Love This If…
- You enjoy classic British farce and witty wordplay
- You appreciate masterful comic timing and physical comedy
- You relish seeing seasoned actors at the top of their game
It is an amazing physical comedy that keep the audience engaged
An incredibly funny and pacy play. Highly recommended for fans of 1970s sitcoms and Mike Leigh films such as Abigail’s Party. Roger Allam turns in comedic brilliance with exquisite timing and perfect delivery. Rowan Polonski as Bob, was particularly good with athletic commitment to his performance. Brilliant all round!
Great classic British comedy! Roger Allam is superb and the rest of the cast are equally excellent!
How the Other Half Loves cast and creative team
By: Alan Ayckbourn
Cast list: Roger Allam, Dorothy Atkinson
Venue
Directions
Location: West End
Railway station: Waterloo
Bus numbers: (Waterloo Road) 1, 4, 26, 59, 68, 139, 168, 171, 172, 176, 188, 521, X68; (Mepham Street) 211, 243, 507
Night bus numbers: (Waterloo Road) 139, 176, 188, N1, N68, N171; (Mepham Street) 243
Car park: Waterloo Station (4mins)
Directions from tube: (7mins) Take Mepham Street (100 metres) down to Waterloo Road. Turn right on Waterloo Road, but keep left as the theatre is 100 metres further along on the opposite corner.
More information about How the Other Half Loves
How the Other Half Loves is a play that was first staged in 1969 and quickly became one of the shows that would confirm Alan Ayckbourn as a major force in British theatre. Beneath the surface of its adulterous wit and messy alibis, it is an inventive piece of theatre, playing with time and space as two homes and three couples collide on stage.
The Old Vic production leans into the original setting the staging was made for, placing audiences close to every lie and poorly timed entrance the show offers. Phillip Breen directs, with set and costume design by Rob Howell, lighting design by Azusa Ono, and sound design by Dyfan Jones.
Ayckbourn’s comedy has as much bite as it does speed, looking at sex, class, marital life, and the lies we tell our loved ones to keep personal responsibility far, far away.
What to watch for
- Alan Ayckbourn has received two Olivier Awards, once in 1985 and again in 2009.
- Ayckbourn is known to have written and produced 91 full-length plays.
- Roger Allam is the recipient of 3 Laurence Olivier Awards.
- In 2002, Dorothy Atkinson was nominated for Best Supporting Actress by the Barclays Theatre Awards.
Frequently asked questions
What is How the Other Half Loves about?
Don’t miss How the Other Half Loves, Alan Ayckbourn’s classic domestic comedy starring Roger Allam and Dorothy Atkinson at The Old Vic.
How do you get tickets for How the Other Half Loves?
Check the top of this page for current availability on How the Other Half Loves tickets on TodayTix.
Which theatre is How the Other Half Loves at?
How the Other Half Loves is at London's The Old Vic, which is located at 103 The Cut, London, SE1 8NB.
What is the running time of How the Other Half Loves?
How the Other Half Loves runs for 2hr 20min. Incl. Interval.
What is the age recommendation for How the Other Half Loves?
Ages 12+.
How much are tickets for How the Other Half Loves?
How the Other Half Loves tickets start at £20.
Who wrote How the Other Half Loves?
Alan Ayckbourn is the playwright.
Who directed How the Other Half Loves?
Phillip Breen stages the show.
Is How the Other Half Loves appropriate for kids?
This production is recommended for audiences 12 and over.
Is How the Other Half Loves good?
The joy of How the Other Half Loves is in watching otherwise respectable people make catastrophic decisions while attempting to look entirely innocent. Ayckbourn turns middle-class life into a trap where everyone is trying to excuse behaviors, host dinner parties, and cover their tracks. It is a phenomenal choice for theatre-goers.
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