Shirley Valentine - Duke of York's

With this only being a one-woman show does much happen at the edges of the stage?

I’ve bought a restricted view seat on the end of a row in the stalls (row E, I think?). Using the lottery voucher it was only £33. Bit suspicious why it was so cheap compared to the rest of the stalls.

They are £6 in the venue

Carl Woodward has posted saying the show is planning a UK tour starring Sheridan Smith. I imagine a tour would centre around a couple of weeks at Liverpool Empire.

Just to reiterate my earlier warning. The programme contains only cast/creatives biogs and some rehearsal pics. I wouldn't bother unless you're an obsessive collector (a habit I need to wean myself off).

Absolutely brilliant - not sure what more I can say that hasn't been said already. Absolutely superlative performance. I wouldn't say I was a FAN of Sheridan beforehand - no firm views on her - but I found her range and ability extraordinary in this show. A very special and rare type of actor.

Christopher Biggins swished in just before curtain up, and had to sit on a house seat, as the show was sold out. I could hear him enjoying it!

Here's an interview between her and the director on Official London Theatre....

fb.watch/jKBu3VBwUj/

That's absolutely brilliant ad-libbing.

Saw this last night and had originally booked a really awful cheap seat in the royal circle where a third of the stage was blocked out, but for £10 I was upgraded to a seat in row G in the stalls that is normally £125! Loved the play and Sheridan's performance, she really drew you in, it was like we were all her friend and she playing off the audience's laughter, including one point where it looked like she was interacting with someone in the front row. I met her afterwards at stage door and she was lovely, happy to take selfies and sign programmes. (I was originally disappointed with the programme, having pre-ordered it before I read the warnings about how small it is here, but now it's got Sheridan's signature on the front it's actually worth something to me!).

Very late to the party for me but the day finally came and its a solid 5 stars from me.
I thought it was an acting masterclass from Sheridan and the best version of Shirley Valentine I have seen.
I loved the way to played to the entire audience and you felt she was talking directly to you. She knew there were 3 levels in the theatre and boxes at the sides and everyone got her attention. When the audience laughed she laughed along as well which was so lovely. Slight mishap when one of the eggs broke getting onto the plate and she ad-libed brilliantly. Full standing ovation at the end and I heard several people on the way out saying that they wished it was longer as they enjoyed it so much.
I was so impressed how she peeled, cooked and served whilst talking and turning to the audience and each element timed to perfection. Id have made a right pigs ear of it and probably cut my fingers or burnt them. My friend did comment that the potato peeler was not of the period and also that we didnt use spray surface cleaners in those days, to be honest I cant remember that far back.
Also hard to believe that the play was written by a man which just shows the skill of Willie Russell.
Fairly well behaved audience apart from a woman sitting next to us who had a very loud and very annoying laugh.
Started 20 minutes late and looked as if lots of people sitting in wrong seats, wrong levels, and as it was full the FOH staff had a bit of a job sorting out the mess. The audience was predominantly female in their 40s and 50s and a few husbands who had clearly been dragged along to see it and would rather not be there.
The theatre must be rubbing their hands from bar sales. I have never seen so much alcohol consumed during 2 hours. Luckily play not long enough for people to get drunk.

I don’t know what it is but I just cannot engage or like Smith. I’ve seen her in a couple of things and I’ve never enjoyed her performances. She’s a bit like Hope-Fletcher in as much as she comes with a lot of emotional baggage. But hey what do I know, I’m in the minority

Well all over now and I hope Sheridan is really proud. She seems in such a good place now. Every show sold out, massive box office advance and I don't think she missed a single show. She seemed really humbled at the end of each performance from the audience reaction and the fans waiting at stage door.
I believe she is now off to Greece for real to film a drama.

I'm so pleased for her.

How ironic that she’s now off to Greece! Wonder if she’ll be asking for a table by the water in the evenings? 😀