Billie Piper

Set in London in 1974, Treats examines a love triangle between Ann [Piper], her new lover Patrick, who is a colleague from work, and her ex-boyfriend Dave. The play was originally produced at the Royal Court, where it starred Jane Asher, Stephen Moore and James Bolam. That production transferred to the Mayfair Theatre.

Producer Bill Kenwright told Theatre.com, “I was looking for a project for [Billie] because she wanted to do a play, and we came up with this. It’s a play I’ve looked at trying to do for 30 years. So I’ve been speaking to Christopher Hampton for a long time, and he was just thrilled when he heard she wanted to do it.”

Piper is best known for playing the role of Rose Tyler (companion to David Tennant’s Dr. Who) in the revived series of Doctor Who. She won the Most Popular Actress category at the 2005 and 2006 National Television Awards for her work. She was also named Best Actress at the TV Quick and TV Choice Awards this year. Piper began her career as a teenager when she appeared on the TV show Scratchy & Co. She was offered a record deal when she was just 15, and in 1998 became the youngest artist ever to debut at number one in the U.K. singles charts with “Because We Want To.” Her second single, “Girlfriend,” also debuted at the top of the charts. Her first album, Honey to the B, spawned two more singles: “She Wants You” and the title track. She was nominated for two Brit Awards and named Best Female Star at the Smash Hits Poll Winners’ party in 1999. She exited the world of pop in 2000 after releasing her second album, Walk of Life. In addition to Dr. Who, her acting credits include the BBC series The Canterbury Tales, a one-off drama Bella and the Boys and a contemporary BBC adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing (playing Hero). She also appeared in the films The Calcium Kid, Things to Do Before You’re Thirty and Spirit Trap.

Prior to its West End bow, Treats will play Windsor’s Theatre Royal from 16 to 27 January.