The matinee at Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham

A month or so ago we decided to go to the theatre in Cheltenham. Helena bought tickets for the matinee of 'The Dresser', a revival of renowned play by Ronald Harwood, which was made into a good film in 1983 starring Albert Finney and Tom Courtenay. It has been revived but not modernised being set during the Second World War when a small actor star led his touring company performing Shakespeare.

This version is also touring the provinces, with Ken Stott as 'Sir", the actor and Reece Shearsmith as 'Norman', his dresser. This play will be opening at the Duke of York's theatre in London's West End quite soon where it certainly deserves to do well. We loved it.

The opening scene shown in my blip above has Ken Stott arriving at his dressing room, somewhat the worse for wear, with only a short time to get dressed for his performance as King Lear. His stage girlfriend/Cordelia, seen here with 'Norman,' is played by Harriet Thorpe. It is sad, funny and tragic by turns and sometimes all at the same time. Apparently Ronald Harwood once acted as the dresser for the famous actor/manager Donald Wolfit

We knew that FrankS, a fellow blipper was also in the audience with his wife Ann, and we met them for a cuppa after the show. We have met them before in Stroud which they visited a couple of years ago, so it was lovely to meet them again. Like us they are fans of the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham and they also loved today's performance, and were moved by it too.

Helena and I were lucky to get a guided tour of the Everyman last year, so it was fascinating to actually see a play there about a play, with all the action based on the backstage events. It was very well designed. Do go and see it if you have a chance.