Star support for new play

Multi-award winning star Kate Winslet has taken the time to send her good wishes to the cast and organisers of Sense and Sensibility, the first of four open air plays at Lytham Hall this summer.

The actress, who made her name starring alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in Titanic, knows Jane Austen’s tale all too well, having won critical acclaim as the impulsive and romantic Marianne Dashwood in the 1995 film
 version.

In a message to cast members from Lincoln-based Chapterhouse Theatre Company, who perform in the production on June 13, she said playing the role was a “memorable” time for her.

She added: “It is with great pleasure I send my best wishes to everyone involved with the production of Sense and Sensibility at Lytham Hall. My role as Marianne Dashwood in the 1995 film version came at the start of my career and was a memorable time for me. I learned a tremendous amount while working with Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman and Hugh Grant; things that I still carry with me today.”

Winslet, one of the few actresses to win Oscar, Grammy and Emmy awards, who was appointed a CBE by the Queen in 2012 for services to drama, also sent an endorsement of the season of open air theatre at Lytham Hall.

“The programme of four outdoor plays at Lytham Hall is an excellent initiative and I wish you all every success for the season,” she added.

“It is very enterprising of Chapterhouse Theatre to present Sense and Sensibility with a small cast in the open air and I hope all four plays will enjoy warm and sunny weather together with a large and appreciative audience.”

Winslet is currently in Chicago filming the second instalment of Veronica Roth’s Divergent trilogy, but was pleased to send a personal message through her London agent Laura Symonse.

Lytham Hall theatre organiser Julian Wilde said: “It’s very heartening to have the interest and support of Kate Winslet – a real bonus for everyone. The Chapterhouse cast are especially thrilled. In recent years, Chapterhouse have established their reputation in Lytham with first-class performances of period costume dramas such as Emma and Pride and Prejudice, so I am sure they will be keen to impress again with Sense and Sensibility.”

Tickets for the June 13 performance cost £13 for adults, with concessions at £10 and £6.50. Call (01253) 736652.

Anna Simmons from Chapterhouse, who will play the role of Marianne Dashwood,said: “It has certainly helped rehearsals go with a swing. She is one of the very top actresses over the past 20 years and I will be having another careful look at her film portrayal of Marianne, who is a complex character to play.”

After Chapterhouse comes to town on Friday, June 13, the season

includes performances by the Illyria company of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance on July 6, Shakespeare’s

Macbeth on July 15 and Roald Dahl children’s favourite George’s Marvellous Medicine on August 24.