The Dresser - Duke of York's

I quite enjoyed this. Yes it is a bit long (the first half middle is too padded and almost repetitive), but the performances are good, as is the set. How well it will do in the West End, though, I'm not sure.

This is a classy production.

A great set, with a good feel for the period. An astonishing cast, led by Ken Stott and Reece Shearsmith who gives a great performance as Norman the Dresser of the title. His closing speech is heartbreaking. A trifle overlong running at almost 2.45 minutes at Brighton Theatre Royal with some moments sagging a little especially when Reece Shearsmith was off stage. But overall a great play of a bygone era of the actor manager touring the provinces, funny, moving and a great production.

4 stars recommended.

Does anyone know if there will be dayseats for this - there are £15 upper circle seats so cheap options are available, but it would be good to know.

OMGosh. I booked this at a loose end last night and got a cheap ticket but I'd have happily paid full price afterwards. The play is a bit creaky but oh my, Reece Shearsmith is quite simply glorious as Norman and is worth the ticket price alone. It's a real tour-de-force performance - funny, warm, bitchy, creepy, nasty and ultimately, heartbreakingly sad. Some awards nominations please!

Nice performances from Ken Stott and Harriet Thorpe as Sir and Her Ladyship too and even though he isn't in it very much, I also found myself really laughing at Adam Jackson-Smith as Oxenby. Great set too. I do love a revolve.

Also, in my youth I was a bit of a unwitting pensioner's pin up so it gladdened my heart after all these years that I think I was amongst the youngest members of the audience.

I had a friend . . .

Yes, could be, I checked other dates within the time frame but it seemed to be the same across all performances. Never mind - maybe I'll pick up something decent towards the end of the run!

Had originally booked to see this last month but had to cancel at the last minute due to a bereavement in my family (and after seeing the last 10 minutes of this, I am glad I didn't go then, I would have been devastated), but picked up a £18 stalls ticket for yesterday through Today Tix (was sat in middle of row Q, was a bit worried seeing £1 binoculars for hire on the back of the seat in front of me when I sat down but the view was fine).

I agree that not a lot happens in act 1, but I was extremely impressed with act 2 - while Ken Stott gave a fine performance, this is really Reece Shearsmiths show. I've seen him in a couple of plays previously and thought he was good, but I thought his performance in this was outstanding, one of the best I've seen this year. Hopefully he'll get more serious roles in the theatre and on TV/film soon.

Highly recommended, there are some extremely funny moments (saw enough of King Lear in this to make me think I did the right thing getting rid of my Glenda ticket) but a word of warning, not one to go and see if you want an 'uplifting' ending and to come out of the theatre laughing and smiling.

I recommend seating it Jean - it's not so downbeat that you will want to go home and sit in a darkened room after seeing it, it does offer some sort of hope and hint of reconciliation at the end. I think my recent circumstances didn't help (there was a man sat behind me blubbing like a baby) but I'm glad I saw it. I now want to go back and watch the Finney/Courtenay film again, I haven't seen it in ages.

Got BB Stalls for just £18 via TodayTix! Looking forward to it Thanks for the tip!

Thank you very much.

The stage was fairly low, so wouldn't have thought you'd miss anything, and while there was fair amount of the revolve in use, wouldn't have thought you'd miss out on anything if you were sat at the end of the row.

Glad you enjoyed it Rumbledoll, I'm hoping to go again closer to the end of it's run and sit a bit closer to the the front if I can get a decently priced ticket.