# Home, I'm Darling

Home, I'm Darling is a play by British playwright Laura Wade. Since its 2018 debut at Theatr Clwyd, the play has been performed in the West End and toured the UK, as well new productions in Australia and northern England. It has won several awards.

## Plot summary

Judy and Johnny lead a 50s lifestyle, clothes, décor, appliances. She stays at home while Johnny works as an estate agent. He hopes for a promotion. He realises they have financial problems; the house might be repossessed. Three years earlier Judy had taken voluntary redundancy, but the money has run out. He is underperforming at work and doesn’t earn as much commission. He says he isn’t happy. They need to change. He gets a promotion, but it will involve a long commute. They agree to compromise.

## Production history

Home, I'm Darling is a 2018 play by British playwright Laura Wade.

### Theatr Clwyd/National Theatre production

The play made its world premiere at Theatr Clwyd from 25 June to 14 July 2018, before transferring to the Dorfman Theatre at the National Theatre, London from 24 July to 5 September. The production was directed by Tamara Harvey and starred Katherine Parkinson as Judy. On 31 August, National Theatre artistic director Rufus Norris stepped in to play Johnny after Richard Harrington was left indisposed.
After the original production, it transferred to the Duke of York's Theatre in London's West End from 26 January to 13 April 2019, before embarking on a UK tour to the Theatre Royal, Bath, and The Lowry, Salford, before returning to Theatr Clwyd.
The production toured again in spring 2023 starring Jessica Ransom as Judy, Neil McDermott as Johnny and Diane Keen as Sylvia.

### Australian productions

The play made its Australian premiere at the Melbourne Theatre Company from 20 January to 29 February 2020 at the Southbank Theatre, The Summer, directed by Sarah Goodes and starring Nikki Shiels as Judy.
A production at the Sydney Theatre Company opened at the Drama Theatre at the Sydney Opera House in from 6 April to 15 May 2021, directed by Jessica Arthur and starring Andrea Demetriades as Judy. It was originally due to open in April 2020, however due to the COVID-19 pandemic the production was postponed.

### UK Northern tour 2021

The play made its regional debut in the UK in 2021. The production was directed by Liz Stevenson, in a co-production between the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough, the Octagon in Bolton and Theatre by the Lake in Keswick. The production was in the round, the first time the play had been performed in this configuration.

## Cast and characters

| Character | Theatr Clwyd / National Theatre | West End | UK tour | Melbourne | Sydney | UK tour | UK tour |
| Character | 2018 | 2019 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2021 | 2023 |
| Judy | Katherine Parkinson | Katherine Parkinson | Katherine Parkinson | Nikki Shiels | Andrea Demetriades | Sandy Foster | Jessica Ransom |
| Johnny | Richard Harrington | Richard Harrington | Jo Stone-Fewings | Toby Truslove | Anthony Taufa | Tom Kanji | Neil McDermott |
| Sylvia | Sian Thomas | Susan Brown | Susan Brown | Jane Turner | Tracy Mann | Susan Twist | Diane Keen |
| Alex | Sara Gregory | Sara Gregory | Sara Gregory | Izabella Yena | Kirsty Marillier | Sophie Mercell | Shanez Pattni |
| Fran | Kathryn Drysdale | Siubhan Harrison | Siubhan Harrison | Susie Youssef | Chantelle Jamieson | Vicky Binns | Cassie Bradley |
| Marcus | Barnaby Kay | Hywel Morgan | Hywel Morgan | Peter Paltos | Gareth Davies | Sam Jenkins-Shaw | Matthew Douglas |

## Awards and nominations
### Original UK/West End production

| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 2018 | UK Theatre Award | Best New Play | Laura Wade | Nominated |
| 2018 | BroadwayWorld UK Award | Best Actress in a New Production of a Play | Katherine Parkinson | Nominated |
| 2019 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best New Comedy | Best New Comedy | Won |
| 2019 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best Actress in a Play | Katherine Parkinson | Nominated |
| 2019 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Susan Brown | Nominated |
| 2019 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best Set Design | Anna Fleischle | Nominated |
| 2019 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best Costume Design | Anna Fleischle | Nominated |
| 2019 | WhatsOnStage Award | Best Actress in a Play | Katherine Parkinson | Nominated |
| 2019 | WhatsOnStage Award | Best Supporting Actress in a Play | Sian Thomas | Nominated |