A woman's legs with red high heels on, next to a police hat and a stethoscope. The Background is a spiral of red, white and blue, and there are handcuffs dangling into the image

What The Butler Saw

Drama London Classic Theatre present by Joe Orton The Haymarket

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Tickets:

£29 (Fri - Sat), £25 (Tue - Thu), £22 (2.30pm). Over 65s £2 off, under 25s and f/t students £12 (includes £4 booking fee)

Group bookings

Buy 10 tickets and get the 11th free

Schools tickets

Under 25s £12, one free teacher per 10 pupils (includes £4 booking fee)

Talk

Wed 22 May - stay in your seat after the performance for a free post-show talk with the company

Warning

Suitable for: ages 14 and over (contains strong language and subject matter which the playwright very much hoped audiences would find offensive).

London Classic Theatre (Abigail’s Party) return with What The Butler Saw.

Within the pristine walls of his private psychiatric clinic, Doctor Prentice is interviewing a new secretary. Geraldine wants the position but seems underqualified and uncertain about her parentage. Mrs Prentice appears, flushed and in urgent need of a drink, following an illicit encounter with Nick Beckett, blackmailer and bell boy at the Station Hotel.

In the meantime, Doctor Rance, a Government Inspector and Sergeant Match, a policeman, arrive amidst increasing chaos with searching questions of their own.

What The Butler Saw is Joe Orton’s final, most ambitious play, manic farce and masterclass in fearless comic writing. No institution, political view or tradition is safe, as Orton focuses his wicked sense of humour on a range of targets, including the establishment, an ex-Prime Minister, cross-dressing, misogyny, and the medical profession. He brings together an array of distinctive characters, placing them in a series of improbable situations, unflinchingly exploring comic territory few playwrights before or since have dared to visit.

During Joe Orton's short, dazzling career, he shocked, outraged, and delighted audiences with his riotous black comedies, including Loot and Entertaining Mr Sloane.

Cast & Creatives

Choose Dates and Book

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