Rachael Stirling will star as Sarah Siddons aka the ‘Queen of Drury Lane’ in The Divine Mrs S, a new play by April De Angelis, directed by Anna Mackmin, which will receive its world premiere at Hampstead Theatre from 22 March–27 April, it has been announced.

Sarah Siddons was the first truly respected female actor in theatre, achieving an astonishing level of celebrity at the end of the 18th century. April De Angelis’ backstage comedy recalls the origins of celebrity culture – before fame automatically granted wealth and power.

Joining Double Olivier Award nominee Rachael Stirling (Private Lives, Donmar Warehouse) will be Anushka Chakravarti (The Crucible, National Theatre), Eva Feiler (Black Chiffon, Park Theatre), Dominic Rowan (The Jungle, West End), Sadie Shimmin (Leopaldstadt, West End), and Gareth Snook (Wise Children, Old Vic).

In 1800, Sarah Siddons was universally acclaimed as the greatest actress of all time holding complete sway over public and critics alike. However she was 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 to 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.

Director Anna Mackmin is joined by designer Lez Brotherston, lighting designer Mark Henderson, and composer and sound designer Max Pappenheim.

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