Grief and humour make strange bedfellows, yet Richard Everett's latest play, Entertaining Angels, struck a chord with widows in West Sussex.

Focusing on Grace, a recently widowed clergyman's wife, this bittersweet comedy premiered at Chichester Festival Theatre earlier this year and is due to begin a UK tour in Richmond next week.

Rather than handling the subject of grief with kid gloves, Everett has taken his gloves off, providing the lines for Penelope Keith to throw the killer punches.

"I've made 4,600 medium-sized quiches and personally baked two tons of light-crust pastry. For what?" asks Grace. For what indeed?

Keith was perfect casting for the part of Grace. Her roles in The Good Life and To The Manor Born as staid English iron' ladies, skilled at hosting tea parties and delivering savage put-downs, serve her well here.

The Surrey-based actress certainly hit the right note with the widows who saw her performance in Chichester.

"A lot of people told me that they recognised the central emotions of the play," admitted Keith.

Those emotions are not sorrow, loneliness or despair, but anger.

"Grace not only loses her husband, she also loses her home and her position in life.

"That may not happen to every widow, but I have spoken to one or two and they agree that anger is a very common part of the grieving process, anger directed towards their deceased husbands.

"They blame their husbands for leaving them alone, but they also realise that their entire lives had revolved around them."

Rather than stifling those emotions, Keith's character uses her new-found freedom to do and say exactly as she pleases.

A freedom she enjoys until the return of her eccentric missionary sister Ruth, together with some disturbing revelations, which force Grace to confront the truth of her marriage.

With sharp-edged comedy and probing wit, Everett - the man behind the BAFTA nominated Joseph - has thrown up an interesting insight into the grieving process.

Keith certainly believes it deserves a good audience, although she doesn't want it to be viewed as an education.

"Good theatre is not about handing out lessons in life, it is about entertainment," said Keith. "This play offers plenty of that, with moments that will make you laugh and cry. It is, however, a play that speaks to people and maybe tackles issues that we don't often talk about.

"It went down incredibly well in Chichester, where the reaction was really good and that convinced us to take it on tour.

"I'm excited because I don't often get to perform in new plays these days, there just aren't that many about. It's said that the plays that last are always about family life. I have high hopes for this one."

  • Entertaining Angels, Richmond Theatre, Richmond Green, Sept-ember 5-9, 7.45pm, plus 2.30pm matinees on Wednesday and Saturday, £13-£27. Visit richmondtheatre.net or call 08700 0606651.