Susan Hampshire is back in the hills

9:00am Friday 5th September 2008

ANOTHER cherished English actress arrives in Malvern this month. Susan Hampshire, star of television dramas the Forsyte Saga and Monarch Of The Glen, returns to Malvern Theatres with Somerset Maugham’s elegant social satire The Circle from Monday, September 22.

“Malvern I absolutely adore because it was where I first met my husband and got to know him,” said Hampshire. “The theatre has a huge catchment area and they attract wonderful audiences.

“I love being up in the hills and that while you appear to be in the middle of nowhere there’s this wonderful and vibrant theatre. I always take about 300 empty bottles to fill from the spring.”

An impressive line-up of female stars are passing through Malvern this year, including Brenda Blethyn (Pride & Prejudice), Stephanie Cole (Waiting for God), Catherine McCormack (Braveheart) and Niamh Cusack (Heartbeat), to name but a few.

In The Circle, Hampshire will play Lady Catherine Champion-Cheney, known as Lady Kitty. In 1921 Kitty abandoned her husband and young son and ran away with a politician. Thirty years on, she returns from exile, worn down by age but clinging to her glamorous past.

At a family reunion, she discovers that her daughterin- law Elizabeth is tempted to embark on an affair leaving Kitty, as events turn full circle, to decide whether or not to encourage the elopement.

Jonathan Church directs the play. For tickets, priced £18.50 - £26.50, or £8 for under 25s, call the box office on 01684 829977 or visit malvern-theatres.co.uk.

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