From 1994–96, Lawrence played Katharine in the Royal Shakespeare Company production of "The Taming of the Shrew" in both Stratford-upon-Avon and London, for which she received a Dame Peggy Ashcroft award for Best Actress. She also appeared in "Faust" and "The Cherry Orchard" and starred as Benedick in an all-female production of "Much Ado About Nothing" at Shakespeare's Globe, having played Beatrice previously at Manchester's Royal Exchange. She made her West End theatre debut in 2001 taking over the lead role of Anna in the stage musical "The King and I", replacing Elaine Paige. In 2005, she appeared with Victoria Wood, Julie Walters and Celia Imrie in the cult West End production of Wood's "".