Teeth 'n' Smiles is a musical play written by David Hare. It debuted at the Royal Court Theatre in London in 1975 and had four further runs between 1975 and 1979. It was revived in 2002, and then again in 2025 for its 50th anniversary, running from March to June 2026.
Plot
The play is set around the performances of a failing rock band fronted by lead singer Maggie Frisby at the May Ball on the night of 9 June 1969 at Jesus College, Cambridge.
Music
The songs in the play were written by Nick Bicât (music) and Tony Bicât (lyrics) and were:Teeth 'n' Smiles Faber and Faber 1976
"Close to Me" "Passing Through" "Yeah Yeah Yeah" "Bastards" "Let's Have a Party" "Arthur's Song" "Last Orders"
Additionally, Rebecca Lucy Taylor wrote a new song for the West End revival (2026) entitled "Maggie's Song"
Productions
Directed by the author, the play was first performed at the Royal Court Theatre on 2 September 1975.
It was subsequently revived in the West End at Wyndhams Theatre in May 1976, then at Oxford Playhouse in October 1977, Nottingham Playhouse in August 1979 and Sheffield's Crucible Theatre in November 2002.
The play was revived at the Duke of York's Theatre in the West End in 2026, with Rebecca Lucy Taylor in the role of Maggie.
Cast lists
Character Off-West EndRoyal Court Theatre programme West EndWyndhams Theatre programme OxfordOxford Playhouse programme NottinghamThe Stage, 16 August 1979, p.51. Sheffield West End197519761977197920022026 Arthur (Songwriter) Jack Shepherd Martin Shaw Frank Grimes Robert Lloyd Scott Handy Michael Fox Inch (Roadie) Karl Howman Peter Attard Tom Bowles Nicolas Tennant Noah Weatherby Laura (Publicist) Cherie Lunghi Gay Hamilton Belinda Lang Gillian Cally Lucy Briers Aysha Kala Nash (Drums) Rene Augustus Charlie Grima Stephen Price Don Hawkins Justin Pickett Bill Caple Wilson (Keyboards) Mick Ford Kevin Elyot Ron Emslie Zubin Varla Michael Abubakar Snead (Porter) Roger Hume Roland MacLeod Noel Collins Keith Taylor Robert Calvert Christopher Patrick Nolan / Matt Ray Brown Peyote (Bass) Hugh Fraser David Cardy Chris Jagger Keith-Lee Castle Jojo Macari Smegs (Guitar) Andrew Dickson Larry Whitehurst Mervyn Stutter Lance Burman Samuel Jordan Anson (Student) Antony Sher Peter Whitman David Bamber Dominic Charles-Rouse Roman Asde Maggie (Singer) Helen Mirren Cheryl Kennedy Linda Marlowe Amanda Donohoe Rebecca Lucy Taylor Saraffian (Manager) Dave King Patrick O'Connell Maurice Kaufmann Ivan Kaye Phil Daniels Randolph (Star) Heinz Tom Wilkinson Anthony Head William Maidwell Joseph EvansIn a 1979 production in the USA, Maggie was played by Ellen Greene.
Trivia
During the initial run at the Royal Court, Keith Moon turned up drunk at the stage door, joined Helen Mirren in her dressing room and told her how great the show was, and then tried to join the cast on stage before being stopped by the management.Mirren, Helen (2007). In The Frame. Orion Books. .
Helen Mirren's interpretation of Maggie was based on Janis Joplin. She said of the role at the time: "I’m very like Maggie in many ways, only she’s much more ballsy and gutsy than me. I endorse most of what Maggie says, in fact in many ways it’s difficult to talk about her because I feel so close to her."Ward, Philip (2019). Becoming Helen Mirren. Troubador. .
References
External links – Living Archive page at the Royal Court Theatre Teeth 'n' Smiles interview with Helen Mirren Teeth 'n' Smiles review 1975-6 review 2002 Teeth 'n' Smiles review 2026