AWARD-winning actress Sian Phillips makes her first appearance in the rejuvenated Malvern Theatres, when Peter Shaffer's Lettice and Lovage is staged at the venue.

Sian last appeared at Malvern in the guise of Marlene Dietrich in Marlene, a role which brought her Olivier, Tony and Drama Desk award nominations.

Speaking last week, ahead of the play's opening in Bath, she described the role as a "nightmare" to prepare for because of the size of her role as Lettice Douffet.

"It is the most impossible play to learn I have ever done," she said, "It's an enormous part, Maggie Smith sent me a message saying 'Don't do it! It will kill you'."

Despite this she says she is greatly looking forward to it, particularly lining up alongside Gwen Taylor, who is playing the role of Lotte Schoen.

Billed as a modern comedy of manners, the play has Lettice as the daughter of a renowned Shakespearean actress now reduced to being a tour guide in a shabby stately home. She embellishes her tours from her own imagination, which earns her the sack from her boss Lotte Schoen but from that an unlikely friendship is sparked.

The new Malvern Theatres already has a track record with Shaffer plays, hosting Amadeus in 1998 and Equus and Black Comedy in 1999. Prior to that, in 1996, Whom do I have the Honour of Addressing was premiered at Malvern.

Welsh born Sian holds two British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) for How Green Was My Valley and I Claudius, in which she played the determined and scheming Livia, wife of Caesar Augustus.

The play runs from Monday, February 5 to Saturday, February 10, with performances at 8pm and Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm. Tickets range from £20 to £12, students £9, from the box office on 01684 892277.