Cast

Synopsis

The Actor-Manager was from the early 18th century until the late 1930’s the backbone of the British Theatre. He played from one end of the country to the other taking his repertoire to the people. This is an affectionate tribute to the last of that special breed and those who loved him.

Directors Notes

Being asked to direct Ronald Harwood’s The Dresser’ a play rich in Theatrical tradition was a great thrill for me.

Trying to capture the atmosphere of the dressing room and backstage and bring it alive was a challenge, working with a script which uses to the full advantage the richness of our English language both practical and poetical; having a cast of players that joy of joys, can do full justice to each and every line; exploring albeit only through the imagination the world of a touring company whose duty as they saw it was to bring the finest of our dramatic traditions out to the people and in so doing created a world of their own “off” stage as well as “on”.

Seeing your set appear magically out of thin air – well it wasn’t there last week! The lights – the sound all so exciting, all so familiar – all so magical all so real.

It is of such things that directors dreams are made – and if you enjoy watching this play as much as I’ve enjoyed rehearsing it you’re in for a very special evening