A b*spoke theatre company production

Dinner With Groucho

Written by Frank McGuinness

Directed by Loveday Ingram

Two men, together, on the edge of heaven. In a strange restaurant, two American giants who revere each other, Groucho Marx and T.S.Eliot, meet for dinner. Both in their own ways great defiant spirits, they create magic and anarchy, revealing secrets and sorrows. The evening is presided over by the Proprietor, who seems to control the workings of the universe. Or does she? In Dinner With Groucho, all is revealed. Or nearly so. From the award-winning writer of such iconic plays as Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme, Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me and The Factory Girls comes this fast-paced fictional dinner date like no other.

Photography by Ros Kavanagh ©
Cast Ingrid Craigie as Proprietor
Ian Bartholomew as Groucho Marx
Greg Hicks as T.S.Eliot


★★★★★ “A glorious example of theatre of the absurd the performances of Greg Hicks as Eliot, Ian Bartholomew as Groucho and Ingrid Craigie as the Proprietor are outstanding”ReviewsGate

★★★★ “Sharp, funny, smart and delicious.”Irish Times

★★★★ “Play that thrives on the inherent intimacy of the setting always entertaining”

★★★★ “Sublime”Jewish Renaissance

★★★★ “Joyously Absurdist”Islington Gazette

“A fascinating, joyous exploration of humanity... Delivered to perfection ”Sunday Independent

“Stylishly staged absurdist entertainment”British Theatre Guide

“Wonderful. Very funny. Dazzling.”PlaysToSee

“Written with wit, and linguistic dexterity, slick, smooth and playful ”LondonTheatre1

“written with wit, and linguistic dexterity, slick, smooth and playful ”WhatsOnStage

“As Groucho, Ian Bartholomew is eccentric, moustache-twitching and funny / Beautiful staged production”Time Out