The Altrincham Garrick Playhouse continues its impressive season with a feel good production of The Good Life this week, bringing Jeremy Sams’ wonderfully adapted stage version of the beloved television classic to life with warmth, charm and plenty of laughter.
Set in suburban Surbiton, The Good Life follows Tom and Barbara Good as they abandon the rat race in favour of a self-sufficient lifestyle, much to the bewilderment of their next-door neighbours, Margo and Jerry Leadbetter. What follows is a hilarious clash of lifestyles, personalities and ambitions, packed with the gentle British humour that made the original series such a success.
Directed by Garrick regular; Daniel Ellis, this production captures the heart and spirit of the much-loved sitcom. Jeremy Sams’ adaptation retains all the wit and charm of the original scripts, delivering plenty of laugh-out-loud moments alongside genuine warmth and affection, especially when dealing with a poorly piglet.
The staging is simple, but Charlotte Leigh’s clever set design features the Goods’ and Leadbetters’ homes split neatly down the centre of the stage, allowing the action to flow seamlessly between the two households.
The cast are fantastic throughout and clearly relish every moment on stage. Robert Crumpton delivers an excellent performance as Tom Good, capturing both his determination and eccentricity with ease. Alongside him, Helen Swain is wonderfully likeable as Barbara Good, bringing warmth, humour and a grounded presence to the role.
Laura Aremia is superb as the formidable Margo Leadbetter, embracing the character’s social aspirations and larger-than-life personality while ensuring she remains utterly lovable. Adam Green provides the perfect foil as Jerry Leadbetter, bringing a relaxed charm and excellent comic timing to the role.
Completing the company are Graham Simmonds and Beverley Stuart-Cole, who take on numerous supporting roles throughout the production. Both demonstrate incredible versatility, from Milkwoman to Policeman; they fill in all those supporting cast roles with such energy.
The entire cast work brilliantly together, their commitment to these iconic characters made it feel familiar to the television series but with a refreshed feel to it, this was also evident with slight tweaks in the script to include Waitrose and modern references too.
I was thoroughly entertained from start to finish. Daniel Ellis has assembled a terrific cast and creative team who have successfully captured everything audiences love about The Good Life, this is another example of the high-quality productions that have become synonymous with the Altrincham Garrick Playhouse.
Verdict: A charming, funny and wonderfully performed production that perfectly captures the spirit of a true British classic!
Reviewer: Max Eden
Reviewed: 1st June 2026
North West End UK Rating:
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