The Girl Next Door (Stage, 2024)

A young woman - Lily - appears in her garden carrying a washing basket; in the next door terraced house Rob - an out-of-work actor - sees her over the hedge and is instantly attracted to her. Just a couple of problems: Rob is in his 60’s, Lily is in her 20’s and Rob is in lockdown in London August 2020, whilst Lily is in the middle of the Blitz in London 1942.

Thus begins Ayckbourn’s 85th play - a clever, time-travelling exploration of how - despite the 72 years that separate them - both Rob and Lily are living through tumultuous years, with Britain at war, families torn apart, the nation experiencing shortages and deprivations and the future seeming uncertain. What prevails is mankind’s indomitable human spirit… and love.

For its 30th Birthday production it seemed only right that Next Stage Theatre  Company should stage a play written by its long-time friend and patron Sir Alan Ayckbourn. Renowned for his witty and insightful writing, Ayckbourn’s  The Girl Next Door was hailed as: “...inventive, empathetic, timely and fun” (The Times) when it opened in Scarborough at The Stephen Joseph  Theatre in 2021.