“A life-affirming story of love and laughter” – we spoke to director of Ladies’ Day Marieke Audsley and cast member Gareth Cassidy about this season’s opening show
“A life-affirming story of love and laughter” – we spoke to director of Ladies’ Day Marieke Audsley and cast member Gareth Cassidy about this season’s opening show
1st February 2023
When director Marieke Audsley was looking for a play to pitch to the New Vic’s Artistic Director Theresa Heskins to open our spring season, she wanted something funny, entertaining and with women at its heart – and Ladies’ Day was first past the post!
This clear frontrunner, written by Amanda Whittington, whose plays Kiss Me Quickstep and The Thrill of Love have previously been performed here, will take to our stage from Friday 3 to Saturday 25 February.
Set in 2005, the year that Royal Ascot relocated to York, Ladies’ Day follows four fish factory workers – all with their own stories, struggles and secrets – who swap the production line for front row at the races.
Ladies’ Day director Marieke Audsley said: “after everything we have been through with covid, a play about friendship, having fun together, and going somewhere special to have a communal experience, felt more important than ever.”
New Vic favourite and ‘man of many voices’ Gareth Cassidy (Marvellous, The 39 Steps), who singularly plays six different male characters in the production, summed up the play as being about “four ladies who learn to laugh, love and live.”
He is joined by Tanya-Loretta Dee, Annie Kirkman, Jo Patmore and Kate Wood as Jan, Shelley, Linda and Pearl, the ladies of Ladies’ Day. The four ladies, unified through work and personal friendship, find themselves on a journey of self-discovery where the true value of everyday life becomes apparent.
Gareth said: “These ladies are taking control of their lives and it is empowering to watch.”
Marieke said: “Stepping away from your everyday life gives you an opportunity to reflect. When Jan, Shelley, Linda and Pearl experience a completely new environment they have this moment of clarity where they realise what it is that they want to get out of life and what is important to them.”
“Sometimes it may feel like you don’t have many choices in life but actually they are yours to be made, you just have to make them,” Gareth added.
Marieke indicated that the little surprises which occur throughout the play are the “stand outs” and that she loved the fact that Gareth has to play multiple roles: “seeing actors working really, really hard is like athletes at the peak of their performance. Poor Gareth’s got a lot of different accents!”
Gareth said: “There’s one character who comes out in full racing jockey attire and I am very much looking forward to the boots. They’re all very well drawn and have nice interactions with the ladies and relationships for better or for worse. They’re not all nice guys. It makes it quite easy to do when it’s so well written and it is good fun and, don’t tell anyone… but it’s not real ‘work’!”
As well as mastering a multitude of accents, Gareth also had to learn ‘tic-tac’, a system of sign language used by bookmakers to communicate the odds of certain horses.
“It’s like doing the YMCA,” he said.
His fellow cast members Tanya-Loretta, Annie, Jo and Kate meanwhile went on a research trip to Wolverhampton Racecourse with Marieke this month to prepare.
Marieke said: “A Monday evening in January was quite different to Ascot in June – we were in woolly hats rather than finery! But it was great to get a sense of the atmosphere. We met some bookies and regular race-goers and it was fascinating to find out more about that world. You really get a buzz from watching the race. It’s had a real impact on the staging of the play.
“And I just fell in love with these four women, they really made me laugh. All the chats they have, particularly at the beginning when they discuss what was for tea that night, it reminded me of lots of jobs I’ve had over the years where you have a group of women that work together every day and you just talk about… everything!”
Finally, Marieke summed up the qualities of the play and its appeal to a wide audience: “It’s a proper feel-good play that is heart-warming and uplifting, that I hope will bring real joy and colour to a dark February evening. Get a group of mates together. Come have fun. If you’ve got a hat that’s been sitting in the back of the cupboard that you wore to somebody’s wedding 10 years ago then bring it out! We want to capture the spirit of the ladies going to the races all together. If you fancy a giggle, a fun night out and if you like Tony Christie [whose music features in the play] then come.”
Gareth added: “And if you like 2005! I feel quite nostalgic about 2005. I challenge people to come and not enjoy themselves.”
Ladies’ Day takes to the stage at the New Vic from Friday 3 to Saturday 25 February 2023. Tickets are on sale now, priced from £20.00. For more information and to book call the Box Office on 01782 717962 or online here.
Photo Gallery
Director Marieke Audsley, Ladies' Day rehearsals, New Vic. Credit Andrew Billington
