Ladies in Lavender, Richmond Theatre

Daniel Schumann and Lee Dean in association with Charles Diamond and Royal & Derngate, Northampton present

Ladies in Lavender

Based on the film written and directed by Charles Dance

Adapted for the stage by Shaun McKenna

Director Robin Lefevre; Designer Liz Ascroft; Lighting Mick Hughes; Music Nigel Hess; Sound John Leonard

An evocative, heart-warming story of unfulfilled dreams and unrequited love

Based on the hit film by Charles Dance starring Judi Dench and Maggie Smith, and on the original short story by William J Locke, Ladies in Lavender tells the tale of two sisters, Ursula and Janet, who live in a close-knit fishing village in picturesque Cornwall, in 1937.

When a handsome and talented young Polish-Jewish violinist bound for America is washed ashore, the Widdington sisters take him under their wing and nurse him back to health. However, the presence of the mysterious young man disrupts their peaceful lives and the community in which they live.

Starring Hayley Mills and Belinda Lang, the production features the exquisite music from the film composed by Nigel Hess for which he won a classical Brit award.

Hayley Mills is from one of Britain’s greatest theatrical families. Signed to Walt Disney Studio as a child, she has worked extensively in film and on stage. Her theatre work includes The King and I and Humble Boy, and on television she plays Caroline in ITV's Wild At Heart. Belinda Lang has starred in the West End opposite Dame Judi Dench in Hay Fever and more recently in The Killing of Sister George at the Arts Theatre. Most well known on television for 2 Point 4 Children, she last appeared on tour in The Reluctant Debutante, which she also directed.

The production also stars Robert Duncan, well known as the jargon-spouting Gus in the award-winning Drop The Dead Donkey. He is joined by Carol Macready, who was nominated as Best Supporting Actress for her role as Mrs Clegg in Enjoy on tour and in the West Endand Abigail Thaw,who most recently played a newspaper editor in the ITV Christmas special Endeavour, a prequel to Inspector Morse. Robert Rees plays the young violinist.

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Whatonstage

‘Hayley Mills is stunning as Ursula. Belinda Lang is equally touching as Janet’
Northampton Chronicle

‘A thumping good play. Beautifully measured, touching and often very funny'
Bath Chronicle

‘Tender, beautiful and emotionally moving’
British Theatre Guide 

'Heart-rending’
Surrey Advertiser