ALLEGRA
ENTERS ITS FINAL WEEK AT THE HAROLD PINTER THEATRE,
CULMINATING IN ITS 100TH PERFORMANCE
Following a celebrated journey across the country and into London’s West End, Allegra, the brand-new play by Tony Award and two-time Olivier Award-nominated playwright Peter Quilter, enters its final week of performances at the Harold Pinter Theatre.
The production will play its 100th performance at its final show on Saturday 8 August 2026.
Led by Dame Maureen Lipman DBE, Allegra has now been seen by more than 20,000 people across the United Kingdom. The production began its life on 25 September 2025 and has grown from a new play into a major national production, touring some of the country’s leading theatres before transferring to the West End.
Described as “a triumphant celebration of joy,” “funny, inventive and full of heart” and “a joyous, up-tempo celebration of happiness,” Allegra has connected with audiences through its warmth, humour and life-affirming message.
Critics have called Dame Maureen Lipman “nothing short of electric” and “simply magnificent,” while the production has been praised as “funny, heartfelt and beautifully performed” and “one of the most uplifting theatrical experiences of the year.”
Although the West End season is coming to an end, the journey of Allegra is only beginning.
Two productions have already been confirmed in Germany for 2027, while Music Theatre International (MTI) will represent the play for professional and amateur licensing around the world. Plans are also in development for a further UK tour, taking Allegra to even more towns and cities and allowing audiences across the country to share in the love, laughter and joy the production has created.
Audiences now have just eight more chances to see Allegra at the Harold Pinter Theatre, with the final performance on Saturday marking the production’s landmark 100th show.
We cannot wait to welcome audiences throughout this final week to our beautifully air-conditioned West End home as we celebrate everything Allegra has brought to audiences across the UK.
Cast
Allegra Maureen Lipman
Ronen John Middleton
Anna Elizabeth Bower
Officer Rogers Bailey Patrick
Cover Allegra & Anna Helen Goldwyn
Cover Ronen & Officer Rogers Gareth Radcliffe
Creative team
Director & Choreographer Stephen Mear
Set & Costume Designer Justin Williams
Lighting Designer Sam Biondolillo
Sound Designer Russell Ditchfield
Video Designer Ben Bull for Big Tele
Wig Designer JJ Wigs
Orchestrator Paul Schofield
Music Director Livi Van Warmelo
Casting Director Rob Kelly
Illusion Consultant Chris Cox
Associate Director Joseph Winters
Associate Set Designer Christophe Eynde
Assistant Costume Designer Row Seward
Production Manager Adam Jefferys for Setting Line Production Management
General Management Thomas Hopkins Productions
Company Stage Manager Freya Bramble
Deputy Stage Manager Michael Clark
Assistant Stage Manager Helena Thompson
Accent Coach Zuzana Mikuleca
Dame Maureen Lipman DBE (Allegra)
At the start of a long and distinguished theatre career in theatre, Dame Maureen Lipman DBE spent three years with the National Theatre Company at The Old Vic led by Sir Laurence Olivier. Her acclaimed one-woman tribute to Joyce Grenfell, Re: Joyce, ran several times over five years in the West End. Other self-written one-woman shows include Live and Kidding (Duchess Theatre) and Up For It (Edinburgh Fringe and Purcell Room). Other theatre credits include: See How They Run (Shaftesbury Theatre): As You Like It (RSC); Outside Edge and Martin Sherman’s Messiah (Hampstead); Aunt Eller in the National Theatre’s Oklahoma!; Lost in Yonkers (Strand Theatre); Daytona (Park Theatre & Theatre Royal Haymarket); Harvey (Birmingham Rep & Theatre Royal Haymarket) and The Best Man (Playhouse Theatre). She has been nominated for seven Olivier Awards across categories commending acting in plays, musicals and comedy, winning in 1984 for See How They Run. Her film credits include: Oklahoma!, the Oscar-winning The Pianist and Educating Rita. Her extensive TV credits include playing agony aunt Jane Lucas in the groundbreaking series Agony (1979 – 81); playing Evelyn Plummer in Coronation Street since 1981 (winning seven TV awards including Best Soap Actress in the TV Choice Awards, and Celebrity Gogglebox alongside Gyles Brandreth.She was married for thirty-three years to the late writer Jack Rosenthal, appearing in three of his TV plays including the Emmy-winning The Evacuees. She was awarded a Damehood in 2021.
John Middleton (Ronen) is best known for playing Rev Ashley Thomas in ITV’s Emmerdale from 1996 to 2017. When John was given the story that Ashley would be diagnosed with Vascular Dementia, which played out over the subsequent two and a half years leading to the death of his character, Emmerdale won the Broadcast, Royal Television Society, National Television Award, BAFTA and British Soap Award for Best Soap, his story won Best Story and Best Episode and he won Best Male Dramatic Performance and Best Actor. At the Yorkshire Royal Television Society Awards, he won Best Actor and a Special Achievement award. After this he starred in a highly successful theatre tour of Strangers on a Train where he appeared as the American detective Arthur Gerard. In 2021, John played Frank in the one-man show Hull & High Water for Hull Truck Theatre. Throughout 2022 and 2023, he played Colonel Pickering in the UK Tour of My Fair Lady, directed by Bartlett Sher and he can currently be seen as resident baddie Fraser “Froggy” Black Sr. in Hollyoaks.
Elizabeth Bower (Anna) is best known for playing Anna in the TV supermarket comedy series Trollied. Her other TV appearances include Mammoth, The Secret Life of Boys, The Trouble With Maggie Cole and Miss Scarlett and the Duke. She was a series regular on Doctors and Princess Mirror-Belle.
Bailey Patrick (PC) is best known on TV as Detective Rob Brady in all four seasons of London Kills. He was also in Bridgerton and Good Omens and played Amari in Andor. He played Vinnie alongside Danny Dyer in the recent film Marching Powder. In the West End he played Trevor in Mischief’s Theatre’s Peter Pan Goes Wrong. Other stage roles include Hickey in The Country Girls (Chichester Festival Theatre).LISTINGS INFO
Thomas Hopkins, SAMS Entertainment,
Melissa & Bradford Coolidge, Trunfio McGill=
present
Dame Maureen Lipman
in
ALLEGRA
by Peter Quilter
Directed & Choreographed
by Stephen Mear
PINTER THEATRE
Panton Street
London WC2
to Saturday 8 August
Tickets:
www.allegraplay.com