Private Lives

A Mercury Production

Love and chaos collide in Noël Coward’s timeless comedy Private Lives, directed by 2024 RTST Sir Peter Hall Director Award-winner Tanuja Amarasuriya.

Amanda and Elyot are charming, rich, utterly reckless – and divorced. When they meet unexpectedly on the first night of their honeymoons with new partners, in the balmy moonlight of the French Riviera, old flames re-ignite, and impulsive love takes hold. But they divorced for a reason, and their fiery romance soon spirals into a chaotic riot of passionate desire, slanging matches and outrageous battles.

Set against a backdrop of 1930s glamour, Noël Coward’s Private Lives is a sparkling comedy of manners – hilarious, stylish, and a rollercoaster of emotions, filled with razor-sharp wit, sizzling chemistry, and timeless sophistication.

Content to Consider

This show is 14+, and contains flashing lights (not strobe), sexual references, hand to hand violence, depictions of alcohol consumption, smoking and themes of domestic abuse.

Booking for a school?

Tickets for schools are £12.50 (including levy) for tickets in bands B, C & D.

You can book today (and even pre-order your ice cream!) by filling in our form or by calling our customer experience team on 01206 573948. Please be aware the form will ask you for your first and second choice performances dates and times, so please do have a look through the performance schedule below before heading over to the form.

Schools Order Form

School workshops

Extend your visit with one of our brilliant workshops!

Collaborating closely with teachers, our Literacy through Drama programme is designed to embed creative learning throughout the term. Alongside drama and literacy skills, pupils will develop their communication, co-operation and confidence in a supportive and inclusive learning environment.

Check out our wide range of school workshops to extend your visit and expand your classroom learning. Discover all of our workshops here: mercurytheatre.co.uk/taking-part/education/school-workshops and email [email protected] for enquiries.

Accessible and Q&A Performances

There will be a relaxed performance on Thu 9 Oct, 2.30pm; an audio described performance with a pre-show Touch Tour (1pm) on Sat 11 Oct, 2.30pm; and captioned performance on Sat 11 Oct, 7.30pm.

There will be a post-show Q&A on Thu 9 Oct, 7.30pm.

Click here to read the full social story – this does contain spoilers.

Our accessible performances are made possible with the support of John Fowlers.

Private Lives Afternoon Tea Offer

Book two tickets for Private Lives (between Wed 1 – Sat 11 Oct) and Afternoon Tea for two people, and receive 15% off your order! Simply add both items to your online basket and the discount will apply automatically, or alternatively call our box office on 01206 573948 to book over the phone.

Private Lives Theatre tours

To celebrate our Mercury Production, Private Lives, we are offering a chance to get a closer sneak peek of the set and a backstage tour! This will be on Sat 4 Oct, 11am and can be booked on our Theatre Tours page.

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