Theatre and Dance Previews

The Dresser in Bath

One of the UK's best-loved actors - Nicholas Lyndhurst - is shortly to appear at Bath's Theatre Royal in a production of Ronald Harwood's acclaimed play The Dresser.

This is the first major revival of the play that was made into an award-winning film with Tom Courtenay and Albert Finney.

Nicholas, who is most well-known for playing Rodney Trotter in classic BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses joins character actor Julian Glover for the play which runs from Monday 22nd to Saturday 27th November.

In a war-torn provincial theatre an ageing actor manager, known to his loyal acting company as 'Sir' (Glover), is struggling to keep a grip on his sanity and complete his two 227th performance of King Lear.

Thanks to the efforts of Hitler, all the able-bodied actors are in uniform and bombs are destroying theatres across the country, but the show must go on.

Ensuring that it does is Norman (Lyndhurst), Sir’s devoted dresser, who for sixteen years has been there to fix his wig, massage his ego, remind him of his opening lines and provide the sound effects in the storm scene.

The Dresser is directed by Peter Hall. Peter is founder of the RSC and formerly Director of the National Theatre and has been responsible for some of the most unforgettable theatre productions of the last 50 years.

Tickets for The Dresser are priced between £12.50 and £23.50 and can be obtained from the Theatre Royal box office on (01225) 448844.

Julian Glover recently spoke to BBC Radio Wiltshire's Mark Seaman about the play and his long, successful career. Click the link on the right to listen to the interview in streaming Real Audio.