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From the creative team behind ‘Blithe Spirit’ and ‘The Taming of the Shrew’ comes HER Productions next classical takeover: Noel Coward’s PRIVATE LIVES. Embracing Coward’s trademark banter and elegance, HER’s production peels back the frothy surface, laying bare the complex power dynamics of love and gender.
In HER’s trademark strip backed style as a smaller independent theatre company, its production will zoom in on the people of the play and fully tease out Coward’s carefully crafted and intricate relationships taking inspiration from The White Lotus. Exceptionally rich, egotistical people, away from their day-to-day lives, navigating messy relationships and a public vs private persona - expect biting repartee, champagne-fuelled chaos and a deliciously dangerous game of love and lust.
HER's Artistic Director Hannah Ellis Ryan takes on the role of Amanda. Hannah has produced over 30 independent theatre productions and as an actress - has appeared in ‘COCK’ by Mike Bartlett, Othello (North East Tour), A Dolls House (Elysium Theatre Company) and over 30 episodes of Coronation Street (playing Hannah Gilmore – the daughter of Liz and Jim McDonald). She has also produced short films with Brew Up Productions, the latest of which 'Filter', won Best Short at the British International Film Festival, which Hannah also wrote and starred in. In 2025 Hannah was awarded the Olwyn Wymark Award for her work in new writing by the Writers Guild of Great Britain.
Alongside her, playing Elyot, is accomplished stage and screen actor Charlie Nobel. His work spans everything from Bollywood productions to Shakespeare tours. His credits include 'Peter Quince' and 'Bottom' in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 'Paulinus' and 'Gringolet the horse' in BOUDICA/The Green Knight, and 'Terry' in the brand new 'Flat Earth The Musical'.
'Private Lives' marks Charlie’s first Noël Coward play.
Completing the cast are Jack Elliot as Victor and Hope Yolanda as Sybil. Elliot’s theatre credits include MOJO (The King’s Arms), The Mousetrap (West End), The Mousetrap 70th (National Tour), The Three Musketeers (New Vic Theatre), Whistle (Old Red Lion); Julius Caesar (Black Box Theatre); Festival! (Pentabus Theatre Company); A Family Affair (Vienna’s English Theatre). Yolanda is a Mancunian actress, and a Royal Exchange Young Company Graduate. Over the past year she has appeared in: Dogsbody by Lindsay Williams for JB Shorts 26, Squeaky Bum's Never Gonna Be One Of The Lads by Alicia Forde, Wizard of Oz at The Dukes Theatre, The Three Little Vikings with Wrongsemble, Alice in Winter Wonderland at The Grange Theatre, and most notably, for the HER Productions audiences, Taming of the 'Shrew'.
Amy Gavin, Director comments: “Our production of Private Lives embraces Noël Coward’s razor-sharp wit while refusing to gloss over the darker currents beneath the comedy. We’re committed to delivering a version that is as hilarious as it is honest—allowing audiences to enjoy Coward’s brilliance while recognizing the very real complexities of these volatile relationships. Directing Private Lives means embracing both its brilliance and its brutality. Coward’s dialogue is irresistibly funny, but the emotional turbulence between these characters is real. My goal is to let the humour shine without ignoring the damaging patterns that drive the story. We are also so proud to be returning to both Hope Mill and The Dukes for our second consecutive Coward. “
Private Lives opens at Hope Mill Theatre on January 28 and runs until February 8, before heading to The Dukes in Lancaster from February 24 to 28.
