| The Fourposter | |
|---|---|
 Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn as Agnes and Michael, 1952 | |
| Written by | Jan de Hartog |
| Characters | Michael and Agnes |
| Date premiered | 21 August 1950 |
| Place premiered | New Theatre, Cambridge |
| Original language | English |
| Subject | Marriage |
| Genre | Drama |
| Setting | Bedroom, 1890 to 1925 |
The Fourposter is a play written by Jan de Hartog. The two-character story spans 35 years, from 1890 to 1925, as it focuses on the trials and tribulations, laughters and sorrows, and hopes and disappointments experienced by Agnes and Michael throughout their marriage. The set consists solely of their bedroom, dominated by the large, fourposter bed in the centre of the room. Among the couple's milestones are the consummation of their marriage, the birth of their first child, Michael's success as a writer, his extramarital affair, their daughter's wedding, and their preparations to move to smaller quarters and pass their home on to another newlywed couple.
After a pre-London tour, it opened in the West End in 1950. A Broadway production followed in 1951, and the play has been adapted for film, television and musical theatre.