"Over My Shoulder" by Richard Stirling at Wyndham's from 27 Oct to 8 Nov 03

"Over My Shoulder" by Richard Stirling at Wyndham's from 27 Oct to 8 Nov 03

Over My Shoulder, the story of Jessie Matthews, the first British performer to transfer from the London stage to Hollywood, will open at the Wyndham's Theatre 28 Oct 03, following a preview on 27 Oct 03, and booking for a limited 2 weeks to 8 Nov 03

(Tickets now on sale!)

This show replaces The Michael Barrymore Show, which was cancelled a couple of weeks ago!

It is written by Richard Stirling, directed & choreographed by Stewart Nicholls, lighting by Leigh Porter and costumes by Ilona Karas Prokopcova.

The cast includes Anne Rogers (Jessie Matthews), Jo Gibb (Young Jessie), Daniel Fine, Abigail Langham, Gavin Lee, Ben Stock, Duncan Wisbey.

This is the story of Britain's first international film star. In the 1920s an 30s JESSIE MATTHEWS high kicked her way out of the back streets of Soho onto the cinema screens of the World. But behind the glamour her ghosts never ceased to haunt her. What was the secret of her appeal - and of her private life? OVER MY SHOULDER features her best loved songs: DANCING ON THE CEILING, IT'S LOVE AGAIN and of course the title number.

OVER MY SHOULDER enjoyed a sold-out run at the Jermyn Street Theatre last year and has played at The Mil at Sonning in Oxford and the Greenwich Theatre this year.

Anne Rogers and Jessie Matthews have much in common. Both performed professionally as children, learnt to 'talk proper', came to fame in their teens and found success in America. Anne's first role was at the age of 15, playing Snow White on tour, twice nightly for two and a half years. Then came ecstatic reviews for her creation of Polly Browne in the original cast of THE BOY FRIEND. She played this in the West End for nearly four years, but the management would not release her to play the part on Broadway. Nevertheless, she went to America to star as Eliza Doolittle in MY FAIR LADY in Hollywood and Chicago - winning the Sarah Siddons Award as Actress of the Year - followed by two and a half acclaimed years as Eliza at Drury Lane. Anne made her 'straight' acting debut, opposite Charlton Heston, in ELIZABETH THE QUEEN but continued to work in musicals: SHE LOVES ME, I DO, I DO, and NO NO NANETTE (West End) and HALF A SIXPENCE, WALKING HAPPY and 42nd STREET (Broadway). For the past 25 years, Anne has lived mainly in America, working in television, radio and theatre. Recent credits include four of her friend Ray Cooney's farces, and Dotty in NOISES OFF.