Amanda Abbington’s production in a London theatre has failed to sell out any shows. The actress is starring in the play, When it Happens To You, at the Park Theatre in North London.
The 50-year-old has been doing press for the play alongside addressing the recent Strictly Come Dancing scandal, however, less than half the venue’s 200 seats have been sold on several dates.
Amanda made her debut on Wednesday evening (July 31) where audience members spotted more than a dozen empty seats, despite opening night traditionally being one of the biggest performances in a show’s run.
The mum-of-two is currently waiting for the outcome of the BBC‘s internal investigation into Giovannni Pernice, who Amanda accused of “bullying” her during their training sessions in 2023.
Amanda claimed she endured five weeks of “threatening” behaviour from Giovanni before she quit the show midway through. Last week, she appeared in her first live interview opposite Christine Lampard, who was standing in for Lorraine Kelly. Amanda revealed the moment she knew things weren’t right in training.
She said: “Week one, the third day. I got texts to the producer on day three going, this is awful, he hates me I don’t know what I’m doing wrong, I’m trying my best, I promise you. That was the first week.”
Amanda later explained how she felt as though she had a right to speak out about the “toxic” environment she was in, adding: “I know what happened in that room and it would be remiss of me if I was to say, ‘It’s fine, I don’t want to talk about it’.”
She continued: “I don’t care what background you’re from, whether it’s dancing, acting or singing. You have a duty of care to bring into that rehearsal room with compassion, understanding, sensitivity and kindness. That wasn’t extended to me, I just said, ‘I don’t think this is right’.”
Christine asked whether or not bullying was the best way to describe what happened to her in that room. She replied: “Yeah, it was inappropriate, it was mean, it was nasty, it was bullying and I put up with it for five weeks.”
Amanda said she knows what a work environment should be like, having been in the industry for 32 years. The Mr Selfridge star later said that she had been enjoying working on the play and everything was going well behind the scenes.
Amanda portrays a mother holding her family together after a life-changing event. Running until August 31, the play is about “mining the depths of human courage and the resolve to survive following a shattering incident”.
Speaking about her new role, Amanda said: “It is the story about love and over coming adversity the subject even though it is what it is there is something joyful and uplifting and encouraging.
“When I first read the play I couldn’t put it down. I had to finish it in one sitting. I t is such a beautifully written piece of theatre. Any actress given this, it would be a gift if a role. It is a beautiful piece of story telling with incredible characters with a message that needs to be told.”
