Frank and Percy

Bill Kenwright presents Ian McKellen and Roger Allam in the comedy hit of the Summer, Ben Weatherill’s Frank and Percy, under the Directorship of Sean Mathias.

Frank and Percy is a poignant and witty take on the unexpected relationship that blossoms between two men.

Ever seen a couple of old boys on a park bench and wondered what they are chatting about?

In his new play Ben Weatherill lets us overhear Frank and Percy as they discuss the weather, then their dogs and then each other and so much more. Will the widowed schoolteacher and the elder statesman dare to risk changing their lives or let sleeping dogs lie?

Old friends, three-time Olivier Award winner Roger Allam, and one of our greatest stage and screen actors, Ian McKellen, re-unite with Director Sean Mathias, for this witty, poignant two-hander.

The play made its critically acclaimed world premiere in June at Theatre Royal Windsor directed by Sean Mathias, before transferring here to The Other Palace for a limited season.

Sean Mathias is a leading British Theatre Director, Film Director, and Writer with numerous awards to his name including the WhatsOnStage Award, Evening Standard Theatre Award, the Critics’ Circle Theatre Award, a Fringe First at Edinburgh, and the Prix de la Jeunesse at Cannes. His multi-award-winning career includes productions at the Royal National Theatre, The Kennedy Centre, The Mark Taper Forum, Paris, Sydney, and Cape Town, including many productions on Broadway, as well as 3 Summer Seasons as guest Artistic Director of Theatre Royal Windsor.

“I cannot believe my luck in finding such a charming and original new play as Frank and Percy. Ben Wetherill is a true young talent in the theatre. And to have reunited Ian and Roger after almost 20 years since we all did Aladdin together at the Old Vic is a real coup.” – Sean Mathias

This production will also see the launch of a new writing development fund at The Other Palace. 50p from each ticket sold on all future productions in the main house, will be allocated to a ring-fenced fund specifically to support the development of new writing and emerging playwrights. The fund will provide grants for new writing from an open call to support, commission and workshop new and emerging writers to develop new plays and musicals, which will then receive a sharing or staged production in the studio at The Other Palace.

Full details of the first open call and details on how to apply will be announced later this year. See for more information here.

Age Guidance: 14 years +