The postponement comes amid reports that the production's star Billy Piper – best known for her appearances on the classic BBC sci-fi show "Dr. Who" – has found her stage debut to be more difficult than anticipated.

But producer Bill Kenwright said the change in the show's opening night was due to avoid clashing with the London opening of the Royal Shakespeare Company transfer of The Tempest starring Patrick Stewart.

Piper concentrated on acting after a successful career as a teenage pop star. Her co-stars in Treats are Kris Marshall (The Hypochondriac) and Laurence Fox, from the British television detective series, "Lewis."

Oscar winner Hampton (Les Liaisons Dangereuses, The Philanthropist) said he wrote Treats, first seen at the Royal Court in 1975, after translating Ibsen's A Doll's House. His aim was to explore the situation of a woman who slammed the door on a relationship with a domineering man, only to later return.

The latest revival of Treats is directed by Laurence Boswell (A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, This Is Our Youth). For more on Treats, which is booking until May 26, call (0)870 890 1104.