MAUREEN LIPMAN IN
ROSE
BY MARTIN SHERMAN
TRANSFERRING TO THE WEST END FOR 28 PERFORMANCES ONLY
THE AMBASSADORS THEATRE
TUESDAY 23 MAY – SUNDAY 18 JUNE
The award-winning, critically acclaimed production of Martin Sherman’s ROSE transfers to the West End this summer, playing at the Ambassadors Theatre for 28 performances only from Tuesday 23 May. Following sell-out runs at Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester, and Park Theatre in London, Maureen Lipman will once again take the role of ‘Rose’ – a performance described as one of ‘unassailable greatness’ (Whatsonstage.com).
Rose, a woman whose tumultuous journey through anarchic times takes her from the devastation of Nazi- occupied Europe to the allure of the American dream. Through the life of one woman, Rose tells the story of a century where everything changed except the violence of the strong against the weak.
The original production of Rose was produced at the National Theatre and on Broadway in 1999. It is perhaps even more relevant today, with the plight of refugees and allegations of antisemitism continuing to dominate the news. This powerful production – described as ‘a masterpiece’ (The Spectator) – is a moving reminder of the harrowing events that shaped the last century.
Olivier Award winning Maureen Lipman has performed with The National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company, and has starred in innumerable West End productions including, Messiah, Wonderful Town, ReJoice, Glorious, Oklahoma, & Daytona. For the last five years she has been delighting television audiences as ‘Evelyn Plummer’ on Coronation Street.
Maureen Lipman said, “I am delighted to be putting Rose back on her bench for a limited run at the Ambassadors in May. I thought I could never have the power to revisit Martin Sherman’s mystical, magical deeply philosophical and wildly funny creation, but Rose is in my blood, and she has to be revived.”
Written by award-winning Martin Sherman whose other plays include Bent, Messiah, A Madhouse In Goa, When She Danced, Gently Down The Stream, as well as the Broadway musical The Boy From Oz and the films Alive and Kicking and Mrs Henderson Presents.
Martin Sherman said, Maureen Lipman’s performance as Rose is the greatest gift a playwright could ever dream of. Performance is perhaps the wrong word; she totally inhabits the role, the woman, the space, the language, the times, the events. I’m so happy that her astonishing alchemy has the opportunity to be witnessed again, for four weeks (only!) at the Ambassadors Theatre.”
Rose is directed by Scott Le Crass, designed by David Shields with musical composition and sound design by Julian Star with lighting design by Jane Lalljee.