By Richard Watson
The show must go on, they say. Never has that been more true than in the Huddersfield Thespians’ next production: ‘The Dresser’ by Ronald Harwood.
For years, the veteran actor-manager known only as Sir has been leading his Shakespearean company around England’s provincial theatres.
He puts himself through the ordeal of late nights, cold suppers and dismal changeovers at Crewe train station for the sake of his art. And he’s one of the best. Or he was.
There’s a war on, and in the face of German bombs and Communist revolution, Sir’s art and his defiant voice raised in defence of the human spirit is more important than ever. But his powers are fading, and every night is more of a struggle than the last. His health and even his sanity are coming into question.
Who can help our hero, in his hour of need? Which loyal servant is on hand to dress him, clean his wigs, and give him the final pep talk to get him on stage? Who will protect him from the tempests backstage, so he can go on and face the tempests of the theatre?
Every impresario needs his dresser, and Norman is standing ready tonight to help Sir towards his greatest performance of King Lear yet.
The air raid siren has sounded, one of the cast is in a police cell, and the doctor insists on rest…but there’s a full house, and Sir never lets down his audience. Is he up to it? Is his company?
Norman has the unenviable task of keeping his tyrannical slave-driver in line, and the show on the road, as the curtain rises on one more battle of man versus storm.
Playwright Ronald Harwood used the experiences of himself and fellow wardrobe dressers working for domineering actor-managers as inspiration for ‘The Dresser.’
The play first opened at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre, before playing on the West End and Broadway.
Norman, the dresser, was played by Tom Courtenay in all three productions, and in the 1983 film. His temperamental charge was played by Freddie Jones, Paul Rogers and Albert Finney.
Audiences might have seen the 2015 film, with Ian McKellen and Anthony Hopkins starring alongside Sarah Lancashire and Emily Watson.
The Thespians’ Norman is Simon Jennings, whom audiences will recognise from the recent ‘Abigail’s Party’ and his wedding monologue in ‘Queers’, as well as his TV appearance in Channel 4’s ‘Hullraisers.’
Alongside him is Stuart Davison, who will be familiar to Huddersfield and Halifax audiences after many appearances across the region, and whom the Thespians are delighted to welcome back.
‘The Dresser’ runs Wednesday October 16 to Saturday October 19 2024, at the Lawrence Batley Theatre. The shows start at 7.15pm and there’s a 2pm Saturday matinee.
Tickets are available now through the Lawrence Batley Theatre Box Office, on 01484 430528, or https://www.thelbt.org/what-s-on/drama/the-dresser/.
