Amy Rosenthal’s compelling, touching and witty new play explores the true story of a family riven by political extremism, seen through the eyes of Jessica (Decca) Mitford as she battles to stay true to her beliefs, whilst moving further and further from the values of her once-beloved sisters. Nancy aspires to be a celebrated novelist, Diana and Unity fall for the dangerous, charismatic leaders of the Far Right in Britain and Germany, and Debo sets her cap at a Duke. Meanwhile Decca crosses continents in her own passionate pursuit of love – but can she ever escape her sisters and her past?

Portraying the sisters on stage are: Kirsty Besterman as Nancy Mitford; Joe Coen as Bob Treuhaft; Elisabeth Dermot Walsh as Diana Mitford; Emma Noakes as Jessica Mitford; Ell Potter as Unity Mitford and Flora Spencer-Longhurst as Debo Mitford. They immersed themselves into the world of the Mitfords by visiting one of the family’s homes, the Jacobean manor house Asthall Manor in Oxfordshire. The trailer captures the on-stage sisters discovering the history of their characters, walking in their footsteps and even recreating some of the most iconic Mitford photographs.

Asthall Manor has stood since at least 1272 and the Mitfords resided at the property from 1919 – 1926 with both Jessica (born 1917) and Deborah (born 1920) being born there. Jessica reflects on her childhood home in her memoir Hons and Rebels, recalling Unity carving swastikas into glass with a diamond ring and the ‘Hons cupboard’ where Jessica and Deborah would retreat from the adult world. Nearly 100 years since the family moved from the Manor, the ‘Hons cupboard’ still remains intact, as does the family’s particular shade of blue paint in the upstairs corridor.

The production is directed by Richard Beecham, designed by Simon Kenny with lighting design by Aideen Malone. The composer and sound designer is Adrienne Quartly, video design is by Dick Straker, Quinny Sacks is the movement director and Haruka Kuroda is fight director. The casting director is Annelie Powell CDG. The Party Girls marks the first production produced by the Marlowe Theatre to go on tour. Following its run at its home venue, it will visit the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Malvern Festival Theatre, Eastbourne Devonshire Park Theatre, Oxford Playhouse and Birmingham Rep.

For further information, please see the Marlow Theatre website

The images show the cast during their visit to the Mitford Girls former residence Asthall Manor in Oxfordshire