The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel at The Lowry
Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor
Uplifting and charming, featuring a celebrated cast, the world premiere stage show of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel comes to The Lowry this autumn.
Based on the Sunday Times bestseller, These Foolish Things (2004) by Deborah Moggach, which in turn inspired the celebrated BAFTA and Golden Globe-nominated film (2011), The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a romantic comedy about a group of British older people who decide to move to a retirement home in India.
Set to embark on a new adventure in India, their luxury residence lacks all of the trimmings that they were promised. However, as they grow together and embrace the spirit of modern-day India, the group find they uncover beauty in the most unexpected places. Joyous and feel-good, with heart-lifting comedic moments, the group discover that love and life can begin again, once they are able to relinquish their pasts.
The film adaptation was a huge hit. With a stellar line-up that included Dame Judi Dench, Dev Patel, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith, Penelope Wilson, Tom Wilkinson, Celie Imrie and Ronald Pickup, it topped the UK box office within two weeks of its release, and went on to become an international success too, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of 2012 in Australia and New Zealand.
Directed by Lucy Bailey, the new stage adaptation boasts an equally impressive ensemble too, including Hayley Mills, Paul Nicholas, Rula Lenska, Tiran Aakel, Richenda Carey, Rekha John-Cheriyan, Andy de la Tour, Shila Iqbal, Kerena Jagpal, Harmage Singh Kalirai, Sally Knyvette, Nishad More, Marlene Sidaway and Anant Varman.
A wonderful theatrical journey with laugh-out-loud moments, perhaps most importantly, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel shines a light on issues such as our NHS and social care system and the complexity of familial relationships throughout the world. Placing older people front and centre, this characterful play illuminates the importance of love, compassion and connectedness. Whatever your age.
