Written in 1934, it is set about thirty years earlier, and depicts the consequences when three middle-aged couples jointly celebrating their silver weddings are informed that they were not legally married.

[1][2] Priestley recalled the genesis of the play: I was writing, very happily and at a furious speed, a farcical comedy that came finally to be called When We Are Married.

[3]While the play was in preparation the title was changed from the original Wedding Group to When We Are Married, quoting a popular song from The Belle of New York.

The two downtrodden partners, Herbert Soppitt and Annie Parker, seem on the verge of rekindling the romantic feelings they had for each other before they paired off with Clara and Albert.

New productions of the play have included: BBC Radio broadcast a shortened version of the play in 1940, and full-length versions in 1946, 1948, 1955, 1965, 1981 and 1994[16] Among the performers were Carleton Hobbs (Parker, 1940), Frank Pettingell (Ormonroyd, 1948, 1955 and 1965), Violet Carson (Maria Helliwell, 1955), Thora Hird (Clara Soppitt, 1965), Derek Guyler, Helliwell, 1965).

The 1994 production featured Michael Jayston and Nicola Pagett as the Helliwells, Alun Armstrong and Gwen Taylor as the Parkers, Alan Bennett and Brenda Blethyn as the Soppitts, and Peter Woodthorpe and Polly James as Ormonroyd and Lottie.

Among those taking part in the first four of these were Patricia Hayes (Ruby, 1949), Joan Hickson (Mrs Northrop, 1949), Peter Cushing (Gerald, 1951), Frank Pettingell (Ormonroyd, 1951 and 1957), Raymond Huntley (Parker, 1951), Violet Carson (Maria Helliwell, 1957) and Wilfred Brambell (Soppitt, 1957).

[18] The 1975 television adaptation featured John Stratton and Beryl Reid as the Helliwells, Eric Porter and Patricia Routledge as the Parkers, Richard Pearson and Thora Hird as the Soppitts, Shirley Steedman as Ruby, Sheila Burrell as Mrs Northrop, Ronnie Barker as Ormonroyd and Sheila Reid as Lottie.

[18] The 1987 version featured Peter Vaughan and Patricia Routledge as the Helliwells, Timothy West and Prunella Scales as the Parkers, Bernard Cribbins and Rosemary Leach as the Soppitts, Sue Devaney as Ruby, Liz Smith as Mrs Northrop, Joss Ackland as Ormonroyd and Patsy Rowlands as Lottie.