By Grace Hatchell
There’s some post that arrives all neat and sensible… and then there’s the sort that swans in with a bit of perfume on the envelope and a knowing smile.
The Marquise is very much the second sort.
Theatre Royal Windsor has announced full casting for Noël Coward’s witty romantic comedy, which opens in Windsor from Wednesday 27 May to Saturday 6 June 2026, with a national press night on Monday 1 June, before heading out on tour. Stops include Oxford Playhouse, Theatre Royal Bath and Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Guildford, with the run then continuing to The Arts Theatre Cambridge.
And the plot sounds exactly the kind of gloriously tangled business Coward knew how to serve up.
A widowed Count decides to marry off his daughter to the son of his best friend, which no doubt seems a very tidy arrangement on paper. Trouble is, both young lovers are secretly longing for other people, so what ought to be a sensible plan starts wobbling almost at once. Then in strides Countess Raoul’s former lover, the spirited Marquise Eloise de Kestournel, bringing wit, charm and a healthy disregard for anyone else’s carefully laid plans.
But—because this is theatre and not a parish noticeboard—both of the young lovers are secretly in love with other people.
You can already feel it unravelling, can’t you?
It’s all tangled affections, old secrets, and that delicious kind of chaos where everyone’s pretending they’ve got everything under control… when they very much haven’t.
Now, let’s talk about who’s bringing all this to life—because this isn’t just a strong cast, it’s one of those “oh hello, I recognise you” line-ups.
Leading the cast is BAFTA Award-winning Juliet Aubrey as The Marquise Eloise de Kestournel. She is joined by Simon Shepherd as Raoul de Vriaac, Tristan Gemmill as Esteban el Duco Santaguano, Albie Marber as Jaques Rijar, and Eva O’Hara as Adrienne.
The wider company is just as packed. Martin Carroll plays Father Clement, Barnaby Tobias plays Miguel, Lee Peck plays Hubert while also understudying Jaques and Miguel, Holly Smith plays Alice and understudies the Marquise, James Smalley understudies Hubert and Father Clement, and Amy Utting understudies Alice and Adrienne.
On the production side, this new version gives the play a vibrant 1930s twist. It is directed by Philip Wilson, with set and costume design by Colin Falconer, lighting design by Nick Richings, sound design by Andy Graham, and associate sound design by Pierre Flasse. The show is described as a sparkling and sophisticated tale of old secrets, impulsive passion and eternal youth, which, if you ask me, sounds like exactly the kind of thing that can cause a very enjoyable amount of trouble.
The Marquise also forms part of Theatre Royal Windsor’s 2026 Season on Tour, a trio of productions originating at the theatre. It will sit alongside Graham Greene’s Our Man in Havana, opening in July 2026, and the return of Royce Ryton’s thriller The Anastasia File in September.
Anne-Marie Woodley, Theatre Director and Head of Venues for Bill Kenwright Ltd, said the season has “grown far beyond its Windsor beginnings” and added that The Marquise is “a production not to be missed!”
And honestly, with that cast, that creative team, and Coward stirring the pot, it does sound like one to keep an eye on.
This feels like the sort of production that won’t just breeze in politely. It’ll arrive dressed for the occasion, lift an eyebrow, upset the seating plan, and make a very fine evening of it.
https://theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk
Full tour dates for the three shows can be found via https://www.kenwright.com/
THEATRE ROYAL WINDSOR
TITLE: The Marquise
DATES: Wednesday 27 May to Saturday 6 June
PRESS NIGHT: Monday 1 June
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE: Mon – Sat @ 7.30pm, Thurs & Sat @ 2.30pm
VENUE: Theatre Royal Windsor,
BOX OFFICE (PHONE) 01753 853 888
WEBSITE: https://theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk/
TOURING DATES:
Oxford Playhouse
Tuesday 9 – Saturday 13 June
https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com
Theatre Royal Bath
Tuesday 16 – Sunday 20 June
https://www.theatreroyal.org.uk
Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Guildford
Tuesday 23 – Saturday 27 June
https://www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk
The Arts Theatre Cambridge
Tuesday 30 June – Saturday 4 July
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