Home, I'm Darling

{{Infobox play|name=Home, I'm Darling|image=|caption=|writer=Laura Wade|chorus=|characters=Judy
Alex
Johnny
Sylvia
Fran
Marcus|mute=|setting=|premiere={{Start date|df=yes|2018|06|25}}|place=Theatr Clwyd|orig_lang=English|series=|subject=|genre=}}

Home, I'm Darling is a play by British playwright Laura Wade. Since its 2018 debut at Theatr Clwyd, the play has been performed in the West End and toured the UK, as well new productions in Australia and northern England. It has won several awards.

Plot summary

Judy and Johnny lead a 50s lifestyle, clothes, décor, appliances. She stays at home while Johnny works as an estate agent. He hopes for a promotion. He realises they have financial problems; the house might be repossessed. Three years earlier Judy had taken voluntary redundancy, but the money has run out. He is underperforming at work and doesn’t earn as much commission. He says he isn’t happy. They need to change. He gets a promotion, but it will involve a long commute. They agree to compromise.

Production history

Home, I'm Darling is a 2018 play by British playwright Laura Wade.{{cite web |last1=Haynes |first1=Natalie |title=Home, I'm Darling review – cupcakes, cocktails and fetishising wifeliness |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2018/jul/04/home-im-darling-review-laura-wade-katherine-parkinson |website=The Guardian |date=4 July 2018}}

= Theatr Clwyd/National Theatre production =

The play made its world premiere at Theatr Clwyd from 25 June to 14 July 2018, before transferring to the Dorfman Theatre at the National Theatre, London from 24 July to 5 September.{{Cite web|url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/wales-theatre/news/richard-harrington-home-im-darling-clwyd-wade_45722.html|title=Richard Harrington cast in National Theatre and Theatr Clwyd's Home, I'm Darling {{!}} WhatsOnStage|website=www.whatsonstage.com|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-04-07}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/home-im-darling-national-theatre-review-katherine-parkinson-it-crowd-a8472526.html|title=Home, I'm Darling, National Theatre review: Well worth a ticket|date=2018-08-01|website=The Independent|language=en|access-date=2019-04-07}} The production was directed by Tamara Harvey and starred Katherine Parkinson as Judy. On 31 August, National Theatre artistic director Rufus Norris stepped in to play Johnny after Richard Harrington was left indisposed.{{Cite web|title=Rufus Norris steps in to star in Home, I'm Darling at the National Theatre {{!}} WhatsOnStage|url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/rufus-norris-acting-home-im-darling_47496.html|access-date=2020-07-26|website=www.whatsonstage.com|language=en-GB}}

After the original production, it transferred to the Duke of York's Theatre in London's West End from 26 January to 13 April 2019, before embarking on a UK tour to the Theatre Royal, Bath, and The Lowry, Salford, before returning to Theatr Clwyd.{{Cite web|url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/katherine-parkinson-home-im-darling-cast-west-end_48260.html|title=Cast joining Katherine Parkinson in the Home, I'm Darling West End transfer announced {{!}} WhatsOnStage|website=www.whatsonstage.com|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-04-07}}

The production toured again in spring 2023 starring Jessica Ransom as Judy, Neil McDermott as Johnny and Diane Keen as Sylvia.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-04 |title=Home, I’m Darling - Bill Kenwright Limited |url=https://www.kenwright.com/portfolio/home-im-darling/ |access-date=2023-08-02 |language=en-GB}}

= Australian productions =

The play made its Australian premiere at the Melbourne Theatre Company from 20 January to 29 February 2020 at the Southbank Theatre, The Summer, directed by Sarah Goodes and starring Nikki Shiels as Judy.{{Cite web|title=Home, I'm Darling|url=https://www.mtc.com.au/plays-and-tickets/whats-on/season-2020/home-im-darling/|access-date=2020-07-26|website=www.mtc.com.au|language=en}}

A production at the Sydney Theatre Company opened at the Drama Theatre at the Sydney Opera House in from 6 April to 15 May 2021, directed by Jessica Arthur and starring Andrea Demetriades as Judy. It was originally due to open in April 2020, however due to the COVID-19 pandemic the production was postponed.{{Cite web|title=Home, I'm Darling|url=https://www.sydneytheatre.com.au/whats-on/productions/2020/Home-Im-Darling|access-date=2020-07-26|website=Sydney Theatre Company|language=en}}

= UK Northern tour 2021 =

The play made its regional debut in the UK in 2021. The production was directed by Liz Stevenson, in a co-production between the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough, the Octagon in Bolton and Theatre by the Lake in Keswick. The production was in the round, the first time the play had been performed in this configuration.{{Cite web|title=Theatre by the Lake announces Home, I'm Darling revival and plans to reopen this autumn|url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/newcastle-upon-tyne-theatre/news/lake-home-im-darling-revival-open_53769.html|access-date=2021-08-26|website=www.whatsonstage.com|language=en}}

Cast and characters

class="wikitable" \|+ ! rowspan="2" \|Character !Theatr Clwyd / National Theatre !West End !UK tour !Melbourne !Sydney !UK tour !UK tour
2018 !2019 !2019 !2020 !2021 !2021 !2023
Judy \| colspan="3" align="center" \|Katherine Parkinson \| align="center" \|Nikki Shiels \|Andrea Demetriades \|Sandy Foster \|Jessica Ransom
Johnny \| colspan="2" align="center" \|Richard Harrington \| align="center" \|Jo Stone-Fewings \| align="center" \|Toby Truslove \|Anthony Taufa \|Tom Kanji \|Neil McDermott
Sylvia \| align="center" \|Sian Thomas \| colspan="2" \|Susan Brown \| align="center" \|Jane Turner \|Tracy Mann \|Susan Twist \|Diane Keen
Alex \| colspan="3" align="center" \|Sara Gregory \| align="center" \|Izabella Yena \|Kirsty Marillier \|Sophie Mercell \|Shanez Pattni
Fran \| align="center" \|Kathryn Drysdale \| colspan="2" \|Siubhan Harrison \| align="center" \|Susie Youssef \|Chantelle Jamieson \|Vicky Binns \|Cassie Bradley
Marcus \| align="center" \|Barnaby Kay \| colspan="2" \|Hywel Morgan \| align="center" \|Peter Paltos \|Gareth Davies \|Sam Jenkins-Shaw \|Matthew Douglas

class="wikitable"

! rowspan="2" |Character

!Theatr Clwyd / National Theatre

!West End

!UK tour

!Melbourne

!Sydney

!UK tour

2018

!2019

!2020

!2021

!2023

Judy

| colspan="3" align="center" |Katherine Parkinson

| align="center" |Nikki Shiels

|Andrea Demetriades

|Sandy Foster

|Jessica Ransom

Johnny

| colspan="2" align="center" |Richard Harrington

| align="center" |Jo Stone-Fewings

| align="center" |Toby Truslove

|Anthony Taufa

|Tom Kanji

|Neil McDermott

Sylvia

| align="center" |Sian Thomas

| colspan="2" |Susan Brown

| align="center" |Jane Turner

|Tracy Mann

|Susan Twist

|Diane Keen

Alex

| colspan="3" align="center" |Sara Gregory

| align="center" |Izabella Yena

|Kirsty Marillier

|Sophie Mercell

|Shanez Pattni

Fran

| align="center" |Kathryn Drysdale

| colspan="2" |Siubhan Harrison

| align="center" |Susie Youssef

|Chantelle Jamieson

|Vicky Binns

|Cassie Bradley

Marcus

| align="center" |Barnaby Kay

| colspan="2" |Hywel Morgan

| align="center" |Peter Paltos

|Gareth Davies

|Sam Jenkins-Shaw

|Matthew Douglas

Awards and nominations

= Original UK/West End production =

class="wikitable" style="width: 100%;"

! style="width: 5%;" |Year

! style="width: 20%;" |Award

! style="width: 40%;" |Category

! style="width: 25%;" |Nominee

! style="width: 10%;" |Result

rowspan="2" |2018

|UK Theatre Award{{Cite web|title=2018 UK Theatre Awards nominees announced {{!}} WhatsOnStage|url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/2018-uk-theatre-awards-nominees_47604.html|access-date=2020-12-03|website=www.whatsonstage.com|language=en-GB}}

|Best New Play

|Laura Wade

|{{nom}}

BroadwayWorld UK Award{{Cite web|author=BWW News Desk|title=Shortlist Announced For The 2018 BroadwayWorld UK Awards; Voting Now Open!|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/Shortlist-Announced-For-The-2018-BroadwayWorld-UK-Awards-Voting-Now-Open-20181022|access-date=2020-12-03|website=BroadwayWorld.com|language=en}}

|Best Actress in a New Production of a Play

|Katherine Parkinson

|{{nom}}

rowspan="8" |2019

| rowspan="5" |Laurence Olivier Award{{Cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/2019-olivier-award-nominations-londons-company-and-come-from-away-lead-the-pack|title=2019 Olivier Award Nominations: London's Company and Come From Away Lead the Pack|last=McPhee|first=Ryan|date=2019-03-05|website=Playbill|language=en|access-date=2019-03-06}}

| colspan="2" |Best New Comedy

| {{won}}

Best Actress in a Play

|Katherine Parkinson

| {{nom}}

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

|Susan Brown

| {{nom}}

Best Set Design

| rowspan="2" |Anna Fleischle

| {{nom}}

Best Costume Design

| {{nom}}

rowspan="2" |WhatsOnStage Award{{Cite web|title=Hamilton leads 19th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards nominations {{!}} WhatsOnStage|url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/hamilton-whatsonstage-awards-nominations-2018-19_48121.html|access-date=2020-12-03|website=www.whatsonstage.com|language=en-GB}}

|Best Actress in a Play

|Katherine Parkinson

|{{nom}}

Best Supporting Actress in a Play

|Sian Thomas

|{{nom}}

References

Category:2018 plays

Category:Plays by Laura Wade

Category:West End plays

Category:Laurence Olivier Award–winning plays