COCKTAILS flowed and cheeks ached from laughter at the press night for Private Lives in Cirencester.

The Barn Theatre transported guests back to the cheekiness of the 1930s with a stage full of striking colour combinations and sophisticated glamour.

Bryan Hodgson's adaptation of Noël Coward’s acclaimed three-act play encompassed everything a good comedy should attain; scandal, hilarious facial expressions and a dash of innuendos.

Private Lives tells the story of Amanda and Elyot, a divorced couple, who are drawn back to each other in a series of unforeseen events.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: Private Lives at The Barn TheatrePrivate Lives at The Barn Theatre (Image: Alex Tabrizi)

Fate forces the couple back together who while honeymooning with their new spouses Victor and Sibyl, discover that they are staying in adjacent rooms at the same hotel.

Despite a perpetually stormy relationship, they realise that they still have feelings for each other and run away to Paris together.

The play charts the highs and lows of Amanda and Elyot's tumultuous relationship, where love is characterised in its most tempestuous and addictive format.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: Private Lives at The Barn TheatrePrivate Lives at The Barn Theatre (Image: Alex Tabrizi)

Each cast member brought their distinctive characters to life, performing their individual quirks and one liners seamlessly.

The costumes undoubtedly aided this characterisation.

Victor's circular glasses emphasised his character's sensibility, juxtaposed against Elyot's silk dressing gown which oozed sexuality and luxury.

Lucy Dixon brilliantly showcased Amanda's fiery temper and impulsive behaviour and Ricky Oakley made a convincing egoistical Elyot.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: Private Lives at The Barn TheatrePrivate Lives at The Barn Theatre (Image: Alex Tabrizi)

The couple treated the audience to their incredible range by creating sweet moments of reminiscence as well as dramatic brutal arguments.

However, it was David Alwyn's performance as Victor which was unforgettable.

He transformed Coward's reliable tepid character into a hilarious cheeky one, the stand out moment of the play was David performing a song on a ukulele.

Equally, Poppy Gilbert made the highly strung Sibyl into a character that demanded attention.

Her exaggerated facial expressions and dramatic wails gave act three's hard-hitting plot the rest bite it needed.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: Poppy Gilbert as Sibyl Poppy Gilbert as Sibyl (Image: Alex Tabrizi)

The cast took the audience on a whirlwind journey of laughter, shock and revelation, striking the right balance of comedy and tragedy as it unveiled the extreme highs and lows of divorce.

This new staging of Noël Coward’s acclaimed comedy of manners Private Lives, will run at the Barn Theatre from May 15 until June 24.

To find out more visit https://barntheatre.org.uk/