The Arts Theatre Cambridge has announced casting for its forthcoming revival of Noël Coward’s comedy Easy Virtue.
Directed by Sir Trevor Nunn (Les Misérables, Cats), Easy Virtue will run at The Arts Theatre from 19 February to 7 March 2026.
Easy Virtue will star Alice Orr-Ewing (The Theory of Everything) as Larita, Michael Praed (Robin of Sherwood) as Colonel Whittaker, and Greta Scacchi (White Mischief) as Mrs Whittaker.
The cast also includes Lisa Ambalavanar as Sarah Hurst, Zena Carswell as Nina Vansittart, Imogen Elliott as Marion Whittaker, Grace Hogg-Robinson as Hilda Whittaker, Hugh Osborne as Mr Harris, Joseph Potter as John Whittaker, Harmage Singh Kalirai as Furber, Jordan Kilshaw as Hugh Petworth, Fiona Tong as Mrs Hurst, Kishore Walker as Philip Bordon, and Jamie Wilkes as Charles Burleigh.
Easy Virtue is the first in-house production at The Arts Theatre since their reopening after the first phase of their redevelopment.
Trevor Nunn returns to The Arts Theatre after launching his career there six decades ago.
In Easy Virtue, Colonel and Mrs Whittaker are shocked and scandalised to learn that their son, John, has, without any consultation, got married in the South of France!
Even worse, he is soon to arrive at their country estate with his new bride, an American divorcée, Larita. She proves to be glamorous, witty, sophisticated and very much a modern woman … everything that Mrs Whittaker is not. Larita’s cosmopolitan lifestyle causes tensions to rise and, in the process, hidden truths are revealed.
Joining Trevor Nunn in the creative team are Associate Director Leah Harris, producers Daniel Schumann and Rachel Tackley, set and costume designer Simon Higlett, lighting designer Johanna Town, sound designer Anna Wood, and casting director Ginny Schiller.
Sir Trevor Nunn said in a statement: “For me, this venture is a very special return journey. I first directed a show at The Arts Theatre when I was a student – a production of The Taming of the Shrew. But then, since traditionally the productions of The Marlowe Society and Footlights were presented at The Arts, I directed both Shakespeare’s notoriously unlucky Scottish play there and the Footlights Review (with my student cast including John Cleese, Graham Chapman and Miriam Margolyes). A wonderful time was had by all! More recently, to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the foundation of The Marlowe Society, I returned to The Arts to direct students in Cymbeline (and found, at auditions to play Posthumus, a student actor called James Norton). Now, thanks to the astonishing philanthropy of Susie Sainsbury, the entirely, beautifully refurbished Arts Theatre is to present my new production of Noel Coward’s futuristic (banned in London in 1925!) serious comedy Easy Virtue. For me, opening at the Arts will be a homecoming.”
Co-Chief Executives of The Arts Theatre Cambridge Rachel Tackley and Victoria Beechey said: “We’re thrilled to be welcoming Sir Trevor Nunn back to The Arts Theatre in Cambridge, which sparked his love for the theatre and kickstarted his monumental career. The recent redevelopment of our auditorium has allowed us to reimagine how we connect with our audiences, artists, and community, and we look forward to the beginning of our renewed ambition to produce more home-grown work for the people of Cambridgeshire.”
More Noël Coward productions
Currently playing in London is Noël Coward’s comedy Fallen Angels starring Janie Dee & Alexandra Gilbreath, at the Menier Chocolate Factory, until 21 February.
Coming soon to London is a revival of Coward’s first ever play, The Rat Trap at the Park Theatre, running from 28 January to 14 March.
Out of London, a new production of Coward’s Present Laughter starring Tracy-Ann Oberman is playing at Theatre Royal Bath from 26 August to 5 September. Also, Jill Halfpenny is starring in Private Lives at The Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester this spring 2026.
Finally, Noël Coward’s rarely performed comedy The Marquise is getting a stage adaptation by Theatre Royal Windsor and Bill Kenwright Ltd, touring this year directed by Philip Wilson.
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