Two Plays Set in Same Dressing Room 90 Years Apart

Noel Coward's Red Peppers twinned with Aged in Wood at the Tabard


Jessica Martin

April 27, 2025

A Noël Coward one act play has been paired with a new piece using the same cast of six and set in the same dressing room 90 years apart.

Red Peppers, a short play by Noël Coward in which he originally starred, shows a faded music hall double act, a husband-and-wife team, who perform two musical numbers punctuated by backstage bickering and quarrels with colleagues. Wind forward 90 years to Aged in Wood, and the gripes in the dressing room haven’t moved on much and leading lady Deena Ames is facing similar luck. An hour before curtain up, and following a disastrous opening night, she faces an uphill battle against agents, directors, her leading man, an ex-husband and a wilful son. The comedy pairing of the classic Coward with the new play specially commissioned from Cian Griffin by OnBook Theatre is an onstage behind-the-scenes pastiche of the stubborn persistence of artistic ego.

The plays directed by Jason Moore are being staged at Theatre at the Tabard from 28 May to 21 June.

The productions star Jessica Martin who has performed on Spitting Image and whose West End credits include Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard, alongside Jon Osbaldeston, Emma Vansittart, John Craggs, Dominic McChesney and Rhys Cannon.

Director Jason Moore said, “Aged in Wood is the first original play to be produced by OnBook Theatre. It is always very exciting to direct a new play and bring it to life for the first time with the actors and creative team. This play is very much a modern play set in current time, yet it also celebrates the traditions of a golden age of comedy and farce. Red Peppers by Noel Coward was a huge inspiration for this play where backstage antics can be ridiculous and funny. Aged in Wood combines comedy and pathos to give the audience a great deal of laughs and some tender heartfelt moments. I am looking forward to audiences falling in love with this wonderful double bill.”

OnBook Theatre’s previous productions have included Yasmina Reza’s God of Carnage (OSO Arts Centre), Joe Penhall’s Landscape with Weapon (Cockpit Theatre), and Neil Simon’s California Suite (OSO Arts Centre). In 2023, they presented The Elephant Song at Park Theatre, and will return to the venue in September 2025 with Lee, a new play about Lee Krasner, painter and wife of Jackson Pollock also written by Aged in Wood writer Cian Griffin.

The plays which run for 1 hour 45 minutes including an interval are suitable for ages 12 and above. They are being staged from Wednesday to Saturday and tickets cost from £18 to £25.50.

Book tickets here.

Coming Up at The Tabard

Theatre at the Tabard is at 2 Bath Road, Chiswick (W4 1LW).

 

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