ONE secret love affair; two disaster-bound dinner parties and three couples heading for trouble will provide fine entertainment for audiences at Malvern Theatres.

A spokesman said: "Direct from a highly celebrated extended season in London’s West End, Bill Kenwright’s production of Alan Ayckbourn’s farcical tale of matrimonial mishaps, How the Other Half Loves is a classic from 1970 classic and it was the first of Ayckbourn’s plays to be staged on Broadway."

"The new production includes leading stage and TV actor Robert Daws as Frank Foster’, best known for the hit series’ The Royal, Outside Edge and Roger Roger.

Charlie Brooks, much-loved for her portrayal of EastEnders’ Janine Butcher performs as ‘Teresa Philips’ with Leon Ockenden, best-known for his role as Coronation Street’s Will Chatterton, will be ‘Bob Philips’."

The spokesman added: "As Bob and Fiona clumsily try to cover up their affair, their spouses’ intervention only adds to the confusion.

"The plot culminates in two disastrous dinner parties on successive nights, shown at the same time, after which the futures of all three couples seem in jeopardy. At turns heart-wrenching and hilarious, Ayckbourn’s tale of social graces and personal misunderstanding remains one of the celebrated writer’s most famous comedies."

An extraordinary success on opening in the West End in 1970 at the Lyric Theatre, How the Other Half Loves ran for a staggering 869 performances, delighting critics and audiences alike.

The spokesman added: "Fondly loved and considered one of Ayckbourn’s most popular plays; How the Other Half Loves received its first major West End revival in 2016, where it once again thrilled audiences.

"The year marks Alan Ayckbourn’s 56th year as a theatre director and his 58th as a playwright. To date he has written 80 plays and his work has been translated into over 35 languages. He became the first British playwright to receive both Olivier and Tony Special Lifetime Achievement Awards and was knighted in 1997 for services to theatre."

How The Other Half Loves will be appearing at Malvern Theatres from Monday September 25 to Saturday September 30.

Tickets are on sale at the Box Office 01684 892277 and online at malvern-theatres.co.uk.