Lady Windermere's Fan
Lady Windermere's Fan
MUST END 7 APRIL
Last chance to see Kathy Burke’s ‘gloriously funny’ (Broadway World) revival of Lady Windermere’s Fan.
The day of Lady Windermere’s birthday party, and all is perfectly in order. Until her friend Lord Darlington plants a seed of suspicion. Is her husband having an affair? And will the other woman really attend the party?
‘You gave me this fan today; it was your birthday present. If that woman crosses my threshold, I shall strike her across the face with it’
Award-winning director Kathy Burke (The Quare Fellow and Once a Catholic) has brought together a talented comedic cast. Samantha Spiro, playing Mrs Erlynne, won an Olivier Award for her performance in Merrily We Roll Along at the Donmar Warehouse. Kevin Bishop will play Lord Darlington, having recently starred in one-man show Fully Committed at the Menier Chocolate Factory and Once In A Lifetime at the Young Vic.
Comedian, screenwriter and actor Jennifer Saunders guest stars as the Duchess of Berwick, marking her return to the West End stage for the first time in over twenty years. Jennifer is best known for writing and starring in the sketch show French and Saunders and the BBC sitcom Absolutely Fabulous, which won international acclaim, a BAFTA and an Emmy.
Classic Spring is a new theatre company, formed by Dominic Dromgoole (former Artistic Director of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre) to celebrate the bold and ground breaking work of proscenium playwrights in the architecture for which they wrote.
Its first offering is an Oscar Wilde Season at the Vaudeville, revolving around his four great Victorian plays, which shocked and redefined British theatre, and still resonate and refresh today. On sale now A Woman of No Importance and Lady Windermere’s Fan, coming soon is An Ideal Husband and The Importance of Being Earnest.
Click here to see the Oscar Wilde Season at the Vaudeville Theatre!
Additional Details & FAQ
- Cancellation Policy
No refunds after booking.
- How Does It Work
If you choose collect at box office you will receive a confirmation email with your booking reference, please print this and bring it with you on the day of the show a minimum of 30 minutes before the performance start time.
If you choose post - tickets are sent 5 days after purchase.
- Suitable For Children
Age Guidance 8+
- Where Do I Go
Vaudeville Theatre
404 Strand, London WC2R 0NH
By Tube- Charing Cross (Northern, Bakerloo) Embankment (District, Circle)
By Bus- 1, 4 , 6, 9, 11, 13 , 15, 68, 76, 171, 176, 188.
Critic Reviews
The Independent
Jan 29, 2018
“a freshness that’s very attractive. Recommended”
Metro
Jan 29, 2018
“Absolutely Fan-ulous”
London Theatre
Jan 29, 2018
“A sparkling production… The Oscar Wilde season now feels like it is hitting its stride”
Reviews
Eugenia
May 14, 2018
A beautiful show, amazing cast and great scenery. Stunning.
JP
Apr 16, 2018
I had an amazing afternoon spent at the Vaudille for Lady Windermere. It is a fabulous play ...all characters were brilliantly played...I was sorry when it was over...love every minute.
R Rainford
Apr 15, 2018
Fabulous performance especially the song in the middle . Jennifer Saunders was brilliant. Thoroughly enjoyable .
Alison
Apr 8, 2018
Great comedy play and very funny. Great cast who enjoyed themselves. Brilliant acting.
Iain
Apr 8, 2018
Everything about this play was fabulous. You acting was great with lovely little touches from Jennifer Saunders. There were no bad casting choices and the direction is superb.
Helen
Apr 8, 2018
Loved the play,very funny and it didn't flag-it flew by. Cast were brilliant and interval song was hilarious!
A man from the Country
Apr 8, 2018
Splendid production of a great Wilde play.
Laura from Norfolk
Apr 8, 2018
Wow what a perfect production. Gorgeous costumes. Fantastic cast. I loved Jennifer Saunders song!
Leanne Davies
Apr 8, 2018
An extraordinary evening, I loved the reconstruction that was done by Kathy Burke and many laughs from Jennifer Saunders, Kevin bishop and Samantha Spiro, David o Riley and the many others a truly spectacular performance by all, I was truly captured by the excellent a their acting.
Helen Parker
Apr 8, 2018
Pure Wilde, lovely production and costumes. Jennifer Saunders shone but didn't detract from a great cast clearly having the time of their lives.
EvelynW
Apr 7, 2018
Wonderful show, loved the costuming and acting. Still an interesting play after all these years.
Gill Williams
Apr 7, 2018
Brilliant production, all the cast were excellent. Funny, poignant and so well done.
N Hutchinson
Apr 7, 2018
More Oscar Wilde. A great production by Classic Spring
JK
Apr 6, 2018
Excellent, Burke’s directorship really shines through. Must see.
D J C
Apr 6, 2018
Enjoyed very much. The humour was as expected
Lesley
Apr 6, 2018
Three generations of our family enjoyed the production - good fun with plenty of laughs. Thanks
Jane D
Apr 4, 2018
Excellent production. Wonderful minimalist set. Amazing almost debut of Grace Molony. Star in the making. Samantha Spiro , brilliant as ever and a fun turn from Jennifer Saunders. Great company performance beautifully directed by the talented Kathy Burke.
Tinker
Apr 4, 2018
After the mixed reviews I read I was greatly surprised and so pleased! All the cast were great in this classic Oscar Wilde play. Jennifer Saunders was hilarious and you could see the humour injected under the direction of the wonderful Kathy Burke!
Marian G
Apr 4, 2018
I really enjoyed Lady Windermere’s Fan during my last trip to London. It’s the only Oscar Wilde I had never seen performed. As his first play it is a bit more talky and dreary than his later ones, but the cast picked up the pace. And the musical interlude following intermission was delightful.
Kph
Apr 2, 2018
All cast shines in this play, obvs Jen Saunders is incredible a real pro. A must see. Very funny, witty and clever. Just great.
mmx
Apr 1, 2018
excellent play, good cast, very enjoyable.
Anniek
Apr 1, 2018
Loved it!
Jack
Apr 1, 2018
great
Fi McG
Apr 1, 2018
Enjoyed very much. We were at the front of the balcony. Lady Windermere’s voice didn’t carry very far therefore hard to hear. Jennifer Saunders was superb.
Vikki
Apr 1, 2018
Great play, comical and moving.
Caroline
Apr 1, 2018
What an amazing afternoon watching this play! The actors were all exceptional. We loved it all from beginning to end. Totally transfixed by the speeches and the comedy was perfect. Highly recommended!
Jan
Apr 1, 2018
What a thoroughly wonderful production! Perfect balance of comedy and pathos. Perfect balance of cast and performance. This Wilde season is a triumph! Really looking forward to the upcoming productions!
MJ
Mar 30, 2018
Really fun and quirky performance by all. Jennifer Saunders with Kathy Burke's direction provide a real comic treat. Look forward to what they have planned next
Jamie Robinson
Mar 30, 2018
The production was excellent and the cast was really funny.
CJ
Mar 30, 2018
Fantastic talented cast. Oscar Wilde never dates. Simply perfect.
James Freeland
Mar 30, 2018
Brilliant comedy. What a clever writer was Oscar Wilde. Great cast and Jennifer Saunders was magnificent as Lady Warwick. Full theatre and very appreciative audience.
David B
Mar 30, 2018
This play was an absolute pleasure to watch. Booked very last minute on my way to London having read no reviews and was not disappointed in the slightest. Kathy Burke has directed a spectacular piece of theatre with a star cast. Jennifer Saunders’ hilarious musical interlude while sets changed was one of the many highlights. This show certainly won’t be forgotten anytime soon! There’s not long left of this run, so make sure you get down to The Vaudeville Theatre - This is a must see!!
Hev j
Mar 28, 2018
Could have been a story from today but in Victorian posh clothes. Good fun , smashing cast. Intimate theatre.
Tim Hale
Mar 28, 2018
The whole Oscar Wilde farce was great fun. Jennifer Saunders was Fantastic excuse the pun :) Would recommend
Maggie M
Mar 26, 2018
I know the play very well and have seen it may times, but this had a freshness to it, not only for the music hall quality and interlude, but also for the highly comic role of the Duchess that really underscored the humour. However, the hypocrisy and moral overload of the characters was very well played with the growing realisation that not everyone or everything is as it seems. High comedy was beautifully interspersed with pathos and some sentimentality. Fabulous clothes and sets.
SL
Mar 26, 2018
A fantastic way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Tremendous cast, brilliant musical interlude. Thank you to all involved.
Lolly
Mar 25, 2018
Great farce good acting
B. Balle
Mar 25, 2018
Very much enjoyed the performance and thought the cast were magnificent. Thought the scenery was a little sparse but the costumes were superb. The musical interlude was a great laugh and very funny.
Heather A
Mar 25, 2018
Having taught the play to A level Drama students I was excited to see what Kathy Burke had in store for us! The front tab provided a wonderful impression of the power of the fan in the 1800’s. I was particularly impressed with the actors playing Lord Darlington, Duchess of Berwick and Mrs Erlynne who all embodied their characters using the witty language to great effect. Their timing was impeccable. The ball scene lacked energy possibly because of the small cast but the musical interlude before the final act was a stroke of genius. The rather gauche awkwardness of Lord Windermere did not work so well but the scene in Lord Darlingtons Rooms was well staged and there was impressive interaction from all the actors. Overall a delightful revival full of comic moments to savour long after the final curtain. Thank you and many congratulations.
Mike Christie
Mar 23, 2018
Marvellous Kathy Burke production with Samantha Spiro and Jennifer Saunders dominating a great cast + Saunders and cast perform a hillarious front of curtain comic song prior to the final act.
Jane
Mar 23, 2018
Kathy Burkes sensitive direction and humorous cross over between classic and music hall rendition of Oscar Wilde’s wonderful Lady Windermere’s fan is just brilliant. She has pulled out all the stops to bring this tale of high society values versus morality up to date. It still has so much to offer and teach us today. Jennifer Saunders is just the best Duchess ever!
Hinge and Bracket
Mar 23, 2018
Fabulous show. Fresh take on such a period play. Excellent casting with excellent performances from all. Costumes, props and staging were perfect. I think Oscar would be tickled pink!
Lee Chester
Mar 23, 2018
A great play that has really stood the test of time. The humour is still relevant, I can imagine Kathy Burke enjoying directing this production. Jennifer Saunders has a wonderful stage presence throughout.
Lynn
Mar 22, 2018
We throughly enjoyed the play. Acting was as we expected superb so we weren’t disappointed. Our attention didn’t wander despite having been up since 5am for hospital appointment & tests.
David Ryan
Mar 21, 2018
The Oscar Wilde classic directed by the supremely talented Kathy Burke and starring the incredible Jennifer Saunders is a total triumph and a must see! I have not laughed so much in a long time. Supremely acted and directed.
Bob Whitson
Mar 21, 2018
Not Wildes best but superbly performed and directed. Jennifer Saunders outstanding as ever.
Tony
Mar 21, 2018
I'll admit I was right at the back and the top but I had problems getting the gist of what Jennifer Saunders was saying and didn't get a word of her song. The problem was mostly her Duchesses voice which included a squawk which made the words indecipherable. Shame really...I'm a fan of hers
Jo G
Mar 20, 2018
I heard about the play after seeing Kathy Burke’s interview on The Last Leg. Loved every minute of it. Brilliant.
IC
Mar 20, 2018
Lovely production, great set and good performances. Jennifer Saunders does not disappoint, fantastic and Samantha Spiro is brilliant. A must see. Just a shame about the stewards behind us who rustled sweet wrappers and whispered throughout the performance!
Judith
Mar 18, 2018
Lovely, witty, elegant and stylish. And so funny. Perfection! Oscar would have loved it.