Actor, comedian, novelist and playwright Nigel Planer (The Young Ones, Filthy Rich & Catflap) is to team up with Tara Arts’ artistic director Jatinder Verma in a brand-new adaptation of Marivaux’s classic French farce.

Transporting the story of a betrothal in 1730s France to twenty-first century England, The Game of Love and Chai centers around a marriage between two modern day Asian families combining familiar French farce with contemporary comedy and Bollywood song and dance.

Kamala wants her daughter Rani to marry successful but emotionally awkward businessman Raj. Rani bristles at going down the conventional route and arranges a test for Raj. She convinces her cousin Sita to swap places and pretend to be the suitable bride – unaware that Raj has come up with the same scheme with his driver, Nitin!

Nigel Planer said “I’ve been hooked on Indian cinema since 1973.  I love its range, its daring and its ridiculous sense of fun.  

"So when I came across Marivaux’s play - a mistaken identity comedy about the foolish things we do when we fall in love - the connection seemed obvious. With Marivaux, as with so-called ‘Bollywood’, the main thing is to completely abandon oneself and let foolishness and love take over.”

Jatinder Verma said “Nigel Planer’s version of Marivaux’s classic farce brings to the fore my abiding interest in connecting the worlds of East and West - connections that have enriched the theatrical cultures of both halves of the planet. Nigel’s new play brilliantly re-imagines Marivaux for today’s multicultural audiences, bringing a touch of India to this comic clash of passion and class.”

Nigel Planer is best known for his role as Neil in the BBC comedy The Young Ones.

He is a founding member of The London Comedy Store and the Comic Strip group, and has written comedy books, novels, plays and scripts. He has worked extensively in theatre, film and television as an actor with stage credits including original London casts of Evita, We Will Rock You, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Chicago, which returns to London this year.

UK tour 1st March – 5th May 

1 – 24 March    Tara Theatre    
        356 Garratt Lane, Earlsfield, London, SW18 4ES 
        7.30pm, 2.30pm Sat 24th March | £15.50
        www.tara-arts.com | 020 8333 4457 

29 – 31 March    The Lowry
        Pier 8, Salford Quays, 3M50 3AZ 
        8pm (2pm Sat matinee)     | £19.50 - £13.50 
        www.thelowry.com | 0843 208 6000 

19 – 21 April    Queen’s Theatre 
        Billet Lane, Hornchurch, RM11 1QT
        8pm (2.30pm Sat matinee) | £20 - £10 
        www.queens-theatre.co.uk | 01708 443 333

24 – 28 April     Belgrade Theatre
        Belgrade Square, Coventry, CV1 1GS 
        7.45pm (2.30pm Sat matinee) | £14.50 - £12 (concs £12.50 - £9) 
        www.belgrade.co.uk | 024 7655 3055

1 – 5 May    West Yorkshire Playhouse
        Playhouse Square, Quarry Hill, Leeds, LS2 7UP 
        7.45pm (2pm Thurs matinee, 2.30pm Sat matinee) | £31 - £13.50 
        www.wyp.org.uk | 0113 213 7700