The first images of Ken Stott and Reece Shearsmith in a new production of Ronald Harwood’s The Dresser were released today, along with two new cast members: Selena Cadell and Harriet Thorpe.
Selina Cadell most recently starred as Miss Froy in the BBC television film The Lady Vanishes. She is well known for her role as Mrs Tishell in the television series Doc Martin. Her stage work includes Sam Mendes’ productions of The Cherry Orchard on Broadway and Twelfth Night at the Donmar Warehouse.
Harriet Thorpe played the character of Fleur in the BBC TV series Absolutely Fabulous and has recently reprised her role in the film adaptation Absolutely Fabulous the Movie!. Other TV and theatre credits include The Musketeers, Great Britain at The National Theatre, Crazy for You at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Wicked at the Apollo Theatre and the tour of Gary Barlow’s The Girls.
The Dresser tells the heart-breaking story of an ageing actor-manager and his long-suffering dresser as they struggle to keep the show on the road against the backdrop of a down-at-heel regional theatre in wartime. First performed in 1980 in the West End and on Broadway, the play was made into a multi award-winning film starring Albert Finney and Tom Courtenay in 1983, and a BBC television film starring Ian McKellen and Anthony Hopkins last year.
Ken Stott has received four Best Actor Olivier Award nominations for his work at the National Theatre and in the West End in The Recruiting Officer, Broken Glass (for which he won Best Actor in a Supporting Role), Art with Albert Finney and Tom Courtenay, and A View from the Bridge. His film credits include The Hobbit, Charlie Wilson’s War and The Chronicles of Narnia, and his television credits include the critically acclaimed BBC series The Missing, for which he received a BAFTA nomination, and Rebus, the Ian Rankin crime drama in which Ken played the title role.
Reece Shearsmith recently appeared in the Olivier and South Bank Award-winning Hangmen at the Royal Court. His other theatre credits include Absent Friends at the Harold Pinter Theatre, Comedians at the Lyric Theatre and The Producers at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. He is perhaps best known for his starring roles in the multi-award-winning cult television series The League of Gentlemen and its spin-offs Inside No. 9 and Psychoville. His film credits include High Rise, Shaun of the GDead and Birthday Girl.
THE DRESSER plays at Duke of York’s Theatre from 5 October 2016 – 14 January 2017. Tickets
Richmond Theatre, Thu 8 – Sat 17 Sep
Tickets on sale soon at www.atgtickets.com/richmond
Brighton Theatre Royal, Tue 20 – Sat 24 Sep
Tickets on sale soon www.atgtickets.com/brighton
Everyman Theatre Cheltenham, Tue 27 Sep – Sat 1 Oct
Tickets now on sale at www.everymantheatre.org.uk
Photo: Hugh Glendinning
