Quartet cast talk ahead of Birmingham REP show

The rumour circling the halls is that the home is soon to play host to a new resident. Word is, it’s a star. Jean arrives and old rivalries resurface, secrets are revealed and chaos unfolds, but in true theatrical tradition - the show must go on.

Paul Nicholas is best known for his work in The Real Marigold Hotel and Just Good Friends, Wendi Peters starred in Coronation Street and Oh What A Lovely War!, Sue Holderness played Marlene in Only Fools and Horses and The Green Green Grass while Jeff Rawle became a household name in Harry Potter and Drop The Dead Donkey.

Their work in the brand-new revival of the bitter-sweet comedy has dazzled critics. Quartet was created by the Oscar-winning writer Sir Ronald Harwood and is a celebration of the twilight years and the hilarity of growing old disgracefully.

The character who causes the disruption at the Kentish retirement home is played by Sue Holderness, who featured alongside Boycie in Only Fools and Horses and The Green Green Grass.

She says: “My character in Quartet, Jean Horton, was a major star in the world of opera. In her heyday she was known as one of the finest sopranos of her generation. She retired very early, apparently to settle down and spend time with her children.

“We discover during the play that there was rather more to it than that. She is a diva. She still thinks of herself as a major star and expects all those around her to jump to her every whim. She’s really rather a monster – so thrilling to play.

“The four characters are very different and seeing them interacting is great fun. Ronald Harwood is the most wonderful writer. I’ve been blessed in my career to be offered roles written by some of the very finest writers – Alan Ayckbourn, George Bernard Shaw, Terence Rattigan and, of course, the genius John Sullivan. Ronald Harwood is up there with the best of them.”

She relates to the play because it focuses on the ageing process. “You ask me to give advice about the hilarity of growing old! Much of it isn’t hilarious at all. Bits of you start to creak and the memory goes walkabout. My character in this is waiting for a new hip and is in constant pain, which probably accounts for some of her grumpiness. But my advice would simply be to keep going. Walk a lot, eat well and laugh. Laughter really is the best medicine – so come and see Quartet.”

Actor Paul Nicholas has been enjoying working with his fellow cast and is happy to be on the road. “It helps that we’re playing old people, other than Wendi who’s a child. If you’re working with slightly more mature actors they’ve been there and done it all, so it’s a bit more easy-going.”

He was looking for a role that reflecting on growing old and was delighted when he stumbled upon Quartet.

“I was looking to do something for an older guy and I came across this play. I thought it was excellent and very well written. It’s a very good comment on what it’s like to be older, especially as an older performer – the difficulties, the fun, the various moods and things that become apparent when you get older.

“There’s one great line ‘we don’t actually change, I’m still the same person’. It’s true, we do basically stay the same. I try to anyway. Every so often you get a job that makes you think ‘that’s really good’, and this is one of those occasions.

“When people come to see it, particularly older people, will recognise things that happen. It sounds awful but it’s actually quite funny. As long as you can keep your sense of humour above anything, you’re OK. Being old can be very enjoyable and you can still have a lot of fun.”

Wendi Peters has enjoyed being on the road since leaving Coronation Street, where she played Cilla Battersby-Brown.

“I think it’s going to be a lovely tour; we go to really lovely venues. I think it’s going to be a lovely, sedate tour with lots of cups of tea, lots of sightseeing… as well as doing the play in beautiful theatres.

“I saw the film when it first came out and again when we started rehearsals; I was pleasantly surprised at how different they are. The film is beautiful and very gentle . . . the play is outright funny!

“We’re laughing at bits ourselves, and we had a select audience the other day and were thrilled at how much they were laughing out loud. There probably isn’t a page of dialogue that goes by without a big laugh.”

Jeff Rawle, meanwhile, thinks the comedy is touching. “It’s very funny because the whole point is that they’re ageing opera singers who were successful in their day so they’re all highly individual and eccentric people, all together in various states of decay. In some ways, they’re starting to return to their childhoods and their past has become very important to them.

“I think people living with older parents, or who are getting old themselves, will recognise the traits – but they’re dealt with great humour. It’s very well written.”