The Duck House at the Vaudeville Theatre London

The Duck House starring comedian Ben Miller opens at the Vaudeville Theatre on 10th December 2013 (previews from 27th November) following a UK tour.

The cast also includes Nancy Carroll, Diana Vickers, Debbie Chazen, James Musgrave and Simon Shepherd.

The Duck House, written by Dan Patterson and Colin Swash, is billed as “an outrageous new laugh out loud comedy set in a world of dodgy receipts, dodgier deceit, and pure Parliamentary panic”. The scene is May 2009, when Gordon Brown’s government is in meltdown and a General Election is only one year away.

Labour backbencher Robert Houston (Miller) loves being an MP and will do anything to save his seat – including change sides. All is going well with his switch from red to blue until, the expenses scandal breaks. The title is a reference to the ‘duck house’ claimed by Tory MP Sir Peter Viggers that came to symbolise the scandal.

Cast: Ben Miller‘s TV credits include Death in Paradise, The Worst Week of My Life and possibly best known for being half of The Armstrong and Miller Show. He was in the original cast of The Ladykillers at the Gielgud Theatre.

Nancy Carroll, who plays Felicity Houston, has stage credits including The Recruiting Officer (Donmar), House of Games, King Lear (Almeida), Arcadia (Duke of York’s) and After the Dance (National). Her film and TV work includes Holby City and Iris.

Diana Vickers, who plays Holly, rose to fame as a contestant on The X Factor in 2009, and won a WhatsOnStage Award for Best Newcomer for playing the part of Little Voice in The Rise and Fall of Little Voice at the Vaudeville Theatre.

Debbie Chazen is probably best known for playing the roles of Big Claire in Mine All Mine for ITV and Annie in the comedy The Smoking Room.

Simon Shepherd has appeared in Brakenmoor (Tricycle) and Posh (Royal Court, Duke of York’s). Other theatre credits include The Secret Rapture (Lyric West End). On television, his credits include Death in Paradise, Holby City, Doctors and The Invisibles, A Touch of Frost, Poirot, Peak Practice and The Jewel in the Crown.

James Musgrave performed as Toby in the sitcom Fresh Meat for Channel 4.

The Duck House is directed by Terry Johnson, with design by Lez Brotherston and lighting by Mark Henderson. The tour opens in Guildford on 23rd October, before heading on a UK tour.

Monday 16th September 2013