Based on the life and work of the author of 'Cranford'

DEAR SCHEHERAZADE...

Elizabeth Gaskell, in her own words

Compiled by Gabrielle Drake and Richard Digby Day

Sunday 2 March 3pm £10 (£9 conc)

Box Office: Lyme TIC 01297 442138

The BBC’s fantastic success with “Cranford” means that curiosity about Elizabeth Gaskell is at an all time high. This charming one woman show based on her life is at the Marine Theatre Lyme Regis on the afternoon of Sunday 2 March. Performed by the elegant Gabrielle Drake it will answer many of our questions, and bring Elizabeth Gaskell to life, as the series brought the book to life for us all on Sunday nights. Anyone who can create such appealing and memorable characters as Miss Matty Jenkyns, played by Judi Dench in the series and Mr Carter, who came to life under Philip Glenister’s moving portrayal, deserves to be understood better.

In this delightful production Elizabeth Gaskell is for the first time the subject of a one-person entertainment: using extracts not only from the novels and short stories, but also from her wonderful letters. Mrs Gaskell is shown in all her variety - balancing a literary career with the responsibilities of being the wife of one of Manchester's leading churchmen at a time of social upheaval. We see her as novelist, mother and biographer of her friend Charlotte Bronte, hostess, traveller, and great correspondent.

There will be a post-production cream tea for £3.00 for TheatreFriends to meet Gabrielle Drake after the performance. Gabrielle Drake will be recognized from the many leading roles she has played on television and on stage. Recently she was here in Lyme Regis with John Mortimer and Joanna David in the wonderful “Mortimer’s Miscellany”. Her television roles include Captain Gay Ellis in the cult series 'UFO', Nicole Freeman in 'Crossroads', Jill Hammond in 'The Brothers', and Lady Asharton

in the 'Inspector Lynley' series. On stage, her London West End Theatre performances include Mrs Erlynne in Oscar Wilde's 'Lady Windermere's Fan',

Monica in Tom Conti's production of Noel Coward's 'Present Laughter', as well as leading roles in Peter Hall's production of 'An Absolute Turkey', Alan Ayckbourn's

'How the Other Half Loves', Michael Frayn's 'Noises Off', and John Whiting's 'Penny for a Song'. Her director and co – writer Richard Digby Day is well known locally  for his work at the Northcott theatre and with the Exeter based Cygnet company. He  has devised and directed many one-person plays on subjects as varied as Trollope for Edward Fox, and Jane Austen (for Geraldine McEwan). He has been Director of five British Regional Theatres, of the Open Air Theatre Regent’s Park, and, most recently, of the National Theatre institute in the USA from 1990 – 1998. He has worked with many of Britain’s leading actors.