The Dresser

Author(s): Ronald Harwood
Company: Theatre Royal Bath Productions and Everyman Theatre Cheltenham

The Dresser

Ronald Harwood’s The Dresser stars Julian Clary as Norman and Matthew Kelly as ‘Sir’, directed by Terry Johnson, inspired by the writer's memories of working as Donald Wolfit’s dresser as a young man.

It is 1942 and in a war-torn provincial theatre an aging actor-manager, known to his loyal acting company as ‘Sir’, is struggling to cling on to his sanity and complete his 227th performance of King Lear. For 16 years, Norman, Sir’s devoted dresser, has been there to fix Sir's wig, massage his ego, remind him of his opening lines and provide the sound effects in the storm scene. It is down to Norman to ensure that in spite of everything, the show goes on.


King's Theatre, Edinburgh