Separate Tables

Book Separate Tables for a feast of drama at the Abbey Theatre.

Timeless classic Separate Tables by Terence Rattigan, one of the greatest British dramatists of the 20th century, comes to the Abbey Theatre Main Stage in May. This acclaimed play resonates with audiences today and touches our hearts, making for a moving theatrical experience.

Set in a hotel in Bournemouth, Separate Tables tells the story of its residents and the secrets they try to keep. The pair of ingeniously interconnected one-act plays explores the themes of loneliness and love, focusing on the characters’ relationships and how past experiences shape present lives.

First performed in 1954, Separate Tables has become a beloved classic on film and television and its lasting popularity is a testament to its enduring themes.

Director Terry Prince writes, ‘Rattigan’s drama consists of two plays set in a residential hotel in mid-1950s England, making a sense of period essential. It is also critical to convey the feeling of living in a place where much of one’s waking life is played out in the shared spaces of dining room and lounge.

‘England then was a very different place, yet emotions spoken and unspoken between the separate tables of the dining room are timeless: love requited and unrequited and the need to keep hidden aspects of yourself of which you may be ashamed. Each of the characters has a back story and I encouraged the actors to explore these and share them with the rest of the cast.

‘Rattigan demands that, as a director, you get below the beautifully crafted words, to expose what lies beneath.’

Performances take place on the Company of Ten Main Stage from Friday 5 May –Saturday 6 May, 8:00pm
Tuesday 9 – Friday 12 May, 8:00pm
Saturday 13 May, 2:30pm

Please note changes to the usual performance schedule to accommodate celebrations over the Coronation weekend.

• Show: current/future_show
• Society Name: 496108
• Venue Name: Abbey Theatre St Albans
• Opening date: 05/05/2023
• Venue Postcode: AL12DL
• Closing date: 13/05/2023
• Region: east_of_england
• Credits ( author / playwright ): Terence Rattigan
• Website: https://www.abbeytheatre.org.uk
• Tickets cost per person (£): £13 / £12 (concessions)
• Box Office phone number: 01727857861