An engaging 1950s house collides with present day realities.

When Judy sets out to become the perfect 1950s housewife, the Martins are living the dream. Johnny has a beautiful wife, a beautiful home, and a promotion on the horizon. Judy is reveling in the joys of domesticity; making cakes, cocktails and homemade marmalade. But cracks are starting to appear in this beautiful façade which threatens their domestic bliss as the realities of living in the 21st Century forces its way into their bubble of idealism. Whether it’s in the form of Johnny’s new (young, female) boss, the contemporary cost of living on a ‘50s budget and one income or Judy’s critical mother, the present insists on being dealt with.

In Laura Wade’s smart and engaging Home, I’m Darling, nostalgia isn’t not only what it used to be, it collides with present-day realities. This witty, highly original and thought-provoking comedy takes a look at the complexity of women’s choices and the dangers of nostalgia through distinctly rose-coloured glasses. Full of playful, breezy charm, it also packs a considerable punch. The 2019 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy, Home, I’m Darling is full of big laughs, big skirts and big questions – how can we live simply and yet cope with the pressures of modern life? What do we lose in the present when we try to live in the past? And can you really get stains out of a shirt with just lemon juice and baking soda?