Fleabag: The Special Edition (NHB Modern Plays)

Celebrate the incredible journey of Phoebe Waller-Bridge's outrageously funny, blazingly forthright Fleabag, from fringe theatre hit to international cultural phenomenon, in this special edition - featuring the original playscript, never-before-seen colour photos, and exclusive bonus content by Phoebe, director Vicky Jones and key members of the creative team. In 2013, Fleabag made its debut as a one-woman show in sixty-seater venue the Big Belly, at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe's Underbelly. It was an immediate hit, going on to enjoy two runs at London's Soho Theatre, national and international tours, whilst picking up prizes including Critics' Circle, The Stage, Fringe First and two Off West End Theatre Awards, plus an Olivier Award nomination. The 2016 TV adaptation propelled Fleabag and Phoebe to worldwide fame, earning critical acclaim and further accolades including Writers' Guild, Royal Television Society and BAFTA Television Awards. A second series, nominated for eleven Emmys, followed in 2019, along with a sold-out run of the original play in New York. This special edition was released alongside Fleabag's first West End run at Wyndham's Theatre, London. It is introduced by Deborah Frances-White, stand-up comedian, writer and host of The Guilty Feminist podcast. 'Throbs with a concentrated, combustible vitality... Fleabag keeps all contradictory shards and shades of feeling in play at the same time. That's why it's so gloriously disruptive' - The New York Times 'Never has being a modern woman seemed so painfully funny, brutal, and hopeless all at once' - The Atlantic 'Filthily funny... the character is a fascinatingly complex creation' - Guardian 'Sucker-punch funny... I've never seen a play quite like it' - Scotsman 'It has the pinpoint observational comedy of great standup, the fearless honesty and shamelessness of a raw confessional and the subtlety to draw you in... both gut-bustingly funny and gut-wrenchingly sad' - The Hollywood Reporter 'Filthy, funny, snarky and touching' - Telegraph 'A legitimately hilarious show' - The New Yorker 'Frank and sometimes brutally funny... devastatingly good' - The Times 'Phoebe Waller-Bridge's one-woman show Fleabag is unbelievably rude, astoundingly filthy and she's almost certainly going to go to hell for it' - Time Out 'Penetrating, pitch-black and nastily brilliant' - Metro 'Funny, vibrant, and blunt as a hammerhead' - New York Magazine

Phoebe Waller-Bridge is an actor, playwright and screenwriter. Her first play, Fleabag, premiered at the 2013 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, performed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge herself, before transferring to Soho Theatre, London, for several successful runs, followed by a UK tour. It won a Fringe First Award, the Most Promising New Playwright and Best Female Performance at the Off West End Theatre Awards, The Stage Award for Best Solo Performer and the Critics' Circle Award for Most Promising Playwright. A television version of Fleabag was broadcast on BBC3/Amazon in 2016, again starring the author. It became one of the most talked and written about shows of the year, winning several awards, including a BAFTA for best actress in a comedy. Other writing for televison includes Killing Eve (BBC America, 2018) and Crashing (E4, 2016). Her acting credits include 2nd May 1997 (Bush Theatre), Tribes (Royal Court Theatre), Mydidae (Soho Theatre) and the award-winning film The Iron Lady. She is co-Artistic Director of acclaimed new writing company DryWrite.