Classic Spring is delighted to announce that Samantha Spiro and Kevin Bishop will star in its forthcoming production of Lady Windermere’s Fan at the Vaudeville Theatre. Director Kathy Burke brings together a talented comedic cast from her previous work on Absolutely Fabulous and Psychobitches, including Jennifer Saunders guest starring as the Duchess of Berwick. This marks Jennifer’s return to the West End stage for the first time in over twenty years

Samantha Spiro plays Mrs Erlynne. Samantha first came to fame playing a young Barbara Windsor in Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick at the National Theatre, a role she recently reprised for the BBC drama Babs. Her other stage credits include The House They Grew Up In (Chichester Festival Theatre), The Taming of the Shrew (Shakespeare’s Globe) and Chicken Soup with Barley (Royal Court). She won the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for Merrily We Roll Along at the Donmar Warehouse. Her other screen credits include Carnage, Psychobitches and Grandma’s House.

Kevin Bishop plays Lord Darlington. Last year, Kevin starred in the BBC’s remake of the classic comedy Porridge, which has now been confirmed for a six-part series. His other screen credits include Tracey Ullmann’s Show, Rebel Wilson’s Super Fun Night and Peep Show. He also co-wrote and starred in Channel 4’s The Kevin Bishop Show, which ran for two series. His recent stage credits include a one-man show, Fully Committed, at the Menier Chocolate Factory, and Once In A Lifetime at the Young Vic.

Comedian, screenwriter and actor Jennifer Saunders guest stars as the Duchess of Berwick. Jennifer is best known for writing and starring in the sketch show, French and Saunders, for which she and Dawn French received a BAFTA fellowship in 2009 and the BBC sitcom Absolutely Fabulous, which won international acclaim, a BAFTA and an Emmy. Her other recent stage and writing credits include the BBC series Jam & Jerusalem and Blandings.

Further casting for Lady Windermere’s Fan will be announced in due course.

The first play of Classic Spring’s year-long season of Oscar Wilde at the Vaudeville, Dominic Dromgoole’s A Woman of No Importance, begins previews on Friday 6 October.