We kept hoping for a London transfer for Flowers for Mrs Harris... But, particularly during lockdown, this is probably even better. If you missed your chance to see this award-winning musical in 2018, be sure to tune in over the next month.
For the first time, Chichester Festival Theatre will stream a selection of its archive productions online, beginning with its award-winning 2018 musical Flowers for Mrs Harris from this Thursday 9 April 2020 ahead of the Easter weekend.
The production will be available to watch on the theatre’s website for free for 30 days until 30 May, and a digital programme is available to download for £2. Donations are invited for Chichester’s “Keep Connected”. Details of future broadcasts will be announced shortly.
Daniel Evans and Kathy Bourne, Artistic and Executive Directors respectively of CFT, said:
“We are delighted that, thanks to the generous agreement of all the artists involved, we are able to make Flowers for Mrs Harris available for people to watch for free at home. Initially, this was intended to be no more than an archive recording, but we felt that the themes of kindness and compassion might bring a bit of joy to people’s lives during these very difficult conditions. While the theatre itself is closed, we are determined to keep working behind the scenes to bring theatre to people at home. Happy Easter from us all at CFT!”
Flowers for Mrs Harris is the story of Ada Harris, a char-lady in post-war London whose drab life of dusting and scrubbing is transformed when she glimpses a Christian Dior dress in one of her client’s wardrobes and sets her heart on going to Paris to buy one for herself.
The 2018 Chichester Festival production is directed by Daniel Evans, with a cast led by Clare Burt (who won a UK Theatre Award for her performance), Joanna Riding and Gary Wilmot. Also in the cast are Claire Machin, Louis Maskell, Mark Meadows, Laura Pitt-Pulford, Nicola Sloane, Luke Latchman and Rhona McGregor, and a company of ‘Dior models’ largely drawn from Chichester Festival Youth Theatre.
With a book by Rachel Wagstaff and music and lyrics by Richard Taylor, Flowers for Mrs Harris captures the glowing humanity of the 1958 novella by Paul Gallico on which it is based. The production began at the Crucible Theatre Sheffield, where it won three UK Theatre Awards including Best Musical.
#mustwatch: @ChichesterFT streams its award-winning 2018 musical #FlowersForMrsHarris free for 30 days from 9 Apr. AD @DanielGwynEvans directs #ClareBurt #JoannaRiding @garywilmotactor @LPittPulford @Ladyclara71 (who're all on @StageFaves btw). #ST #SF
— Terri Paddock (@TerriPaddock) April 7, 2020
ð¥ https://t.co/48ODaG5vgb pic.twitter.com/FqtyvOZhpe
