How the Other Half Loves tickets

Three marriages, two homes, and one terrible alibi meet in How the Other Half Loves, Alan Ayckbourn’s deliciously written comedy on sex, class, and domestic partnerships gone wild. Book How the Other Half Loves tickets on London Theatre.

How the Other Half Loves is a play centreing Fiona Foster and Bob Phillips, who are in quite a pickle. Each of them has been accused of having an affair with their spouse, and they reach for the same seemingly harmless solution—none other than to blame the innocent Featherstones. Unfortunately for them, William and Mary Featherstone have no idea that they have been chosen as the cover story for two folks in a bind.

As the three couples’ lives become increasingly entangled, the lies seem to stack on top of each other, and what are supposed to be ordinary social coming-togethers turn disastrous. Dinner parties and polite conversations become part of the chaos in Ayckbourn’s story, which explores themes of class, desire, and the secrets we keep even within our marriages.

How the Other Half Loves in London was first performed in 1969, helping to establish Alan Ayckbourn as one of Britain’s greatest comic playwrights. The show is known for its inventive structure, which brings two homes and three separate couples together into one witty, complex tale.

This Old Vic production returns How the Other Half Loves to the in-the-round staging for which it was written. Roger Allam stars as Frank Foster and Dorothy Atkinson plays Fiona Foster. They are joined by Ayesha Antoine as Teresa Phillips, Rowan Polonski as Bob Phillips, Laura Elsworthy as Mary Featherstone, and Adam Gillen as William Featherstone.

Phillip Breen directs the production, with set and costume design by Rob Howell, lighting design by Azusa Ono, and sound design by Dyfan Jones.