Present Laughter - Tour Dates

Performance information is for guidance only. Check booking calendar for details.

Poole Lighthouse
13 October 2026 - 17 October 2026
Booking Soon
Liverpool Playhouse Theatre
20 October 2026 - 24 October 2026
Booking Soon

What happens when the world insists on loving you a little too much?

Tracy-Ann Oberman takes centre stage in Noël Coward’s razor-sharp comedy Present Laughter, reimagined with a thrilling twist. For the first time, the iconic role of Garry Essendine is played by a woman – meet Geri Essendine.

A wildly successful actress of a certain age (39… for the last ten years), Geri is adored by audiences, irresistible to admirers, and completely exhausted by the circus that surrounds her. As she prepares to escape on a tour of Africa, her carefully ordered life begins to unravel. A swarm of would-be lovers descend. An estranged husband reappears. A loyal secretary struggles to hold the chaos together. And an infatuated young playwright threatens to tip everything over the edge.

Caught between vanity and vulnerability, wit and weariness, Geri must decide whether freedom is something she truly wants — or something she only pretends to crave.

Following her acclaimed turn as Shylock in The Merchant of Venice 1936, Tracy Ann Oberman once again takes on a role traditionally reserved for men, bringing fresh bite, warmth and modern resonance to Coward’s brilliantly funny exploration of fame, ego and desire.

Directed by Lindsay Posner, fresh from West End successes including Noises Off, A View From the Bridge and The Deep Blue Sea, Present Laughter is sparkling, fast-paced and deliciously self-aware.

A comedy about loving too much, being loved too much – and the glorious mess in between.

Present Laughter is touring the UK in 2026.

Geri Essendine is a hugely successful actress who has been 39 for the best part of a decade. Her personality, wit and charm have earned her a legion of devoted fans, young and old, and a coterie of friends, acquaintances and hangers-on. Just as she is about to depart for a tour of Africa, Geri finds herself besieged by a bevvy of would-be lovers, not to mention her long-suffering secretary, estranged husband and an obsessed young playwright. Will she ever disentangle herself from their tightening clutches and incessant demands? And deep down, does she really want to…?

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Stars and Creatives

Tracy-Ann Oberman
Tracy-Ann Oberman

Who is in the cast of Present Laughter?

  • Tracy-Ann Oberman (EastEnders, Friday Night Dinner) as Geri Essendine
  • James Dreyfus (The Thin Blue Line, Lady in the Dark) as Monty.
  • Adrian Lukis (Pride and Prejudice, Black Mirror) as Len
  • Richenda Carey as Lady Saltburn
  • Seb Carrington as David Stillington
  • Eva Feiler as Rosina Maule
  • Gabriella Foley as Miss Erikson
  • Charlotte Randle as Henrietta
  • Jonathan Tafler as Morris
  • Perry Williams as Fred
  • Kit Young as Johannes

Who are the creative team of Present Laughter?

  • Written by Noël Coward
  • Reimagined by Tracy-Ann Oberman
  • Directed by Lindsay Posner

Venue Information

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Frequently Asked Questions

To buy official London Theatre tickets to Present Laughter, click on the Get Tickets button at the top of this page. You will be able to access the booking calendar to check live ticket availability and prices and see any exclusive offers or discounts. You will be purchasing tickets from an authorised retailer and member of the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers.
Yes, Present Laughter has matinee performances on the following days:

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