It will then go on to visit Coventry, Wales, Woking, Cheltenham, Oxford, Buxton, Poole, Milton Keynes, Crawley, Canterbury, Cambridge, Derby and Darlington.

In this stage version of the hit TV series, Michael Simkins will play Cabinet Secretary Sir Humphrey Appleby, and Graham Seed will play Prime Minister Jim Hacker.

Simkins has been seen in the West End in Chicago, Mamma Mia!, The King and I and The Old Masters. On TV, he has played a regular character in "Foyle's War," and other roles include "A Touch of Frost," "Judge John Deed" and, most recently, "Above Suspicion: Silent Scream."

Seed is best known for his role as Nigel Pargetter in BBC Radio Four's "The Archers" since 1983. Among his many TV appearances, he has starred as Jorkins in the television series "Brideshead Revisited" and Britannicus in "I, Claudius." More recent TV credits include Spielberg's "Band of Brothers" and "Midsomer Murders."

The production is directed by Jonathan Lynn and designed by Simon Higlett. It is produced by Mark Goucher, Wimpole Theatre and Matthew Byam Shaw for Playful Productions.