The World Premiere of April De Angelis’ brand new comedy The Divine Mrs S, which opens on the Main Stage on the 22 March, explores the life of actor Sarah Siddons – the most famous woman you have probably never heard of!

In the late Georgian era, Sarah Siddons was considered the country’s most talented tragic actress, most famous for her spectacular portrayal of Lady Macbeth. Referred to as the Queen of Drury Lane, she was adored by many, despite rising to fame at a time when acting wasn't considered a respectable profession for women. An actress and a muse, her portraits and statues can be found in galleries from London to California - likelihood is you have walked past her multiple times! 

	The artwork for the production features Sir Thomas Gainsborough's portrait of Sarah Siddons which is displayed at the National Portrait Gallery.
	A large statue of Sarah sits in Paddington Green outside Westminster. When Sarah died in 1831, 5000 people attended her funeral here on Paddington Green.
	In the chapel of St Andrew in Westminster Abbey, a statue of Sarah Siddons stands at seven feet and two inches.
	Painted by artist Sir Thomas Lawrence in 1812, at the end of her career, this portrait of Sarah Siddons is displayed at the Tate Gallery London.
	Sir Joshua Reynolds' painting of Sarah Siddons as 'the tragic muse' is displayed in the centre of The Huntington Gallery's 'British and European Art' collection, all the way in California.
	Sarah Siddons was born in Brecon in 1755, the building she was born in is now a pub - the Sarah Siddons Inn.

 

April De Angelis' The Divine Mrs S, directed by Anna Mackmin opens on the Main Stage 22 March

"Stop writing? This was your first play. Did Shakespeare let Titus Andronicus put him off? An experimental tragedy about a pie? You’ve just begun!"

Drury Lane, 1800. Mrs Sarah Siddons, universally acclaimed as the greatest actress of all time, holds complete sway over public and critics alike. But she is herself subject to direction from the men in her life - her bone-headed brother who runs the theatre and chooses her roles, and her faithless husband who signs her contracts and collects her fees. Siddons decides it’s time become the leading lady of her own life, harnessing her star power as the world’s first female celebrity and taking control of her own destiny – but she reckons without the absurdly comic plot-twists of a life on the stage…

BOOK NOW FOR THE DIVINE MRS S