It will subsequently go on an eight-week U.K, tour, with dates yet to be announced.

Ayckbourn's 52nd full-length play received its world premeire at Scarborough's Stephen Joseph Theatre in 1997 before transferring to the West End's Gielgud Theatre in 1998. Imbruglia will play Nikki Wickstead, the victim of a classic Ayckbourn love triangle.

According to press materials, in South West London Barbara, elegant and glacial, lives in immaculate order on the middle floor of her converted house. Downstairs, lovelorn postman and part-time plumber Gilbert has created a shrine to his landlady. Upstairs, the flat is empty, a perfect temporary bolthole for Nikki, Barbara's old school-friend, and her fiancé Hamish. Unfortunately Hamish is everything that Barbara despises (bearded, Scottish and vegetarian) and Hamish takes an instant dislike to the ever-intolerant Barbara - a hostility which hides deeper feelings.

The production will be directed by Laurence Boswell, who has been the artistic director of the Theatre Royal Bath's Ustinov Studio since 2011, where his seasons of U.K. premieres have received huge national acclaim. He is also an associate artist of the RSC. His West End credits include Ben Elton's Popcorn; Madonna in Up For Grabs, her London stage debut; Eddie Izzard in A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, which he subsequently also directed on Broadway, where he was Tony nominated for Best Director; and Matt Damon and Jake Gyllenhaal in This Is Our Youth.

To book tickets, which go on sale Nov. 30, contact the box office on 01225 448844 or visit http://www.theatreroyal.org.uk/.