It’s not often that you hear a talented actress who sings very well being proud of singing badly. But this is definitely the case with Nottingham actress Alison Hope. Alison will be creating lots of theatrical laughter and music in her demanding role of New York’s legendary heiress and 1940s socialite, Florence Foster Jenkins in Peter Quilter’s popular comedy – Glorious!

Quilter’s international smash hit play premiered back in 2005 and has since been performed in more than twenty countries around the world, selling, in the process over a million tickets. In the UK the play has been one of Samuel French’s most licensed titles performed by the non-professional theatre quarter. A Stephen Frears film of the story of Florence Foster Jenkins has garnered further interest in this lovable eccentric lady who genuinely believed she could sing -well in her head at least. Equally important to the story is Florence’s loving relationship with actor St Clair Byfield played in this production by Max Bromley. Film director Stephen Frears said that he found Florence to be an ‘engrossing’ character and the film dealt with her illness and death as well as her extraordinary musical life and personal generosity.

Peter Quilter’s comedy has a much lighter tone than the film and will guarantee the Lace Market Theatre audiences a superb evening’s entertainment. The Sunday Times described Glorious! as a ‘lunatically funny play that will keep you very happy… glittering and funny.’

Glorious! could well be another sell out comedy for the Lace Market Theatre.

Director Roger Newman has assembled a beautiful cast of very experienced players who have been laughing their way through rehearsals whilst getting down to the job of exploring the relationships of their characters. Understandably they are very much looking forward to performing next week in Quilter’s tender comedy. It could well be another sell out show for this accomplished amateur group.

Phil Lowe.

Glorious! runs at The Lace Market Theatre Nottingham Monday 23 Jan – Saturday 28 Jan. Booking details HERE.

Production photos by Mark James.

Cast:

Alison Hope: Florence Foster Jenkins.

Cosme McMoon: Chris Sims.

St Clair Byfield: Max Bromley.

Dorothy: Carol Parkinson.

Maria: Beverley Anderson.

Mrs Johnson: Cynthia Marsh.

Set design: Carole Philip.

Lighting design: Hugh Philip.

Sound design: Gareth Morris.