The Royal Shakespeare Company’s hit comedy The Constant Wife by Laura Wade – a new production starring KaraTointon.
Presented by David Pugh and Cunard,The Constant Wife is based on the comedy by W Somerset Maugham and will tour the UK before making its debut at sea on the Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic Crossing.
Directed by Co-Artistic Director of the RSC Tamara Harvey,The Constant Wife will star one of thecountry’s favourite actresses, Kara Tointon (Mr Selfridge, Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping,Twelfth Night for The Royal Shakespeare Company,The Windsors: Endgame at the Prince of Wales Theatre and Winner of Strictly Come Dancing) and features original music composed by multi-award-winning jazz artist Jamie Cullum.
Joining Kara Tointon as Constance are: Jules Brown (The Shawshank Redemption on a UK Tour and Ghost the Musical on an International & UK Tour) as Mortimer; Tim Delap (Jane Eyre at the National Theatre, Peaky Blinders) as John; Gloria Onitiri(Hadestown in the West End, A Christmas Carol at The Old Vic) as Marie-Louise; Alex Mugnaioni (The Taming of the Shrew at the Globe Theatre, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin at the Harold Pinter Theatre and on tour) as Bernard; Philip Rham (HarryPotter and the Goblet of Fire, Jane Eyre for Shared Experience in an International and UK Tour before the West End) as Bentley; Amy Vicary-Smith (The Duchess of Malfi) at Trafalgar Studios and Machinal at The Orange Tree Theatre) as Martha; and Sara Crowe (Calendar Girls at the Noel Coward Theatre,Four Weddings & A Funeral and Private Lives at the Aldwych Theatre, for which she won an Olivier Award for best supporting actress) as Mrs Culver. Also joining the company are SamFlint, Jocasta King and Jane Lambert.
W Somerset Maugham’s The Constant Wife was written in 1926 and described as ‘a sparkling comedy of ill manners’. This wonderful new version of The Constant Wife is by Laura Wade, the Olivier Award-winning writer of Home, I’m Darling, which was also directed by Tamara Harvey. Most recently, Laura has had phenomenal success with the television series Rivals.
Premise:1927. Constance is a very unhappy woman. “Nonsense,” says her mother, “she eats well, sleeps well, dresses well and she’s losing weight. No woman can be unhappy in those circumstances.”
Constance is the perfect wife and mother, and her husband is as devoted to her as he is to his mistress, who just happens to be her best friend.
David Pugh, the five-time Olivier Award and two-time Tony Award winning producer: “I’m delighted to have commissioned Laura Wade to adapt this comedy and to be working with the Royal Shakespeare Company on this new production of The Constant Wife. Partnering again with Cunard, with whom I’ve had such a wonderful ongoing relationship, continues to be a joy. For me, in the times that we’re in, there is nothing better than to bring comedy to audiences in theatres all around the UK and to hear people laughing.”
Katie McAllister, President of Cunard: “As sponsor of the UK tour, Cunard is extremely proud to support this fresh, witty and thoroughly entertaining production, following its great success in Stratford Upon Avon. We are especially excited to welcome the play on board Queen Mary 2 during a Transatlantic Crossing next May, where our guests will be able to enjoy world-class theatre at sea. We are also delighted to be working again with both the Royal Shakespeare Company and David Pugh.”
Tamara Harvey and Daniel Evans, co-Artistic Directors of the Royal Shakespeare Company: “Our ambition is to bring joy to as many audiences as possible, deepening our understanding of ourselves and the world around us, and so we are thrilled to be bringing The Constant stages across the UK, following its success at the Swan in Stratford. It will be so exciting to get back into the rehearsal room with our new company, led by the brilliant Kara Tointon, and for us to bring Laura Wade’s razor-sharp script to life.”
The Constant Wife is at Leeds Grand Theatre fromTuesday 14–Saturday 18 April 2026. Book tickets online at leedsheritagetheatres.com or call Box Office on 0113 243 0808
Photography by Mihaela Bodlovic.
Set and co-Costume Designer Anna Fleischle
co-Costume Designer Cat Fuller
