‘There hasn’t been an empty seat yet!’ Sheridan Smith ‘to take her one-woman West End show Shirley Valentine on a UK tour’ – earning her a massive £500,000
Sheridan Smith is being lined up to take her one-woman West End show Shirley Valentine on a UK tour which could net her up to £500,000.
The actress, 41, made history, breaking the Duke Of York’s box office record after her play opened to advance bookings totalling £4million.
Stepping into shoes first worn by Pauline Collins in a 1989 film of the same name, Smith will continue her run in London until June.
Theatre director David Pugh told The Sun on Sunday: ‘I want to bring Shirley to the people, but only if it’s Sheridan. She is perfect in every way.
‘Sheridan has been inundated with film and TV offers because of the success of Shirley. Her agent is on holiday but I think they’re going to have a look at all these wonderful offers.
Exciting: Sheridan Smith is being lined up to take her one-woman West End show Shirley Valentine on a UK tour which could net her up to £500,000
Amazing: The actress, 41, made history, breaking the Duke Of York’s box office record after her play opened to advance bookings totalling £4million
‘But if we could take Sheridan as Shirley around the country I would love to. There hasn’t been an empty seat yet. Sheridan hasn’t missed a laugh.’
Her press night performance was given a rapturous reception, with an emotional Smith evidently taken aback by the response as she closed the performance by welcoming her 22-month old son Billy onto the stage.
The play – which runs until June – is the joyous, life-affirming story of the woman who got lost in marriage and motherhood, the woman who wound up talking to the kitchen wall whilst cooking her husband’s chips and egg.
But Shirley still has a secret dream. And in her bag, an airline ticket. One day she may just leave a note, saying: ‘Gone! Gone to Greece.’
The play was written by Willy Russell, directed by Matthew Dunster, designed by Paul Wills, with lighting design by Lucy Carter, sound design by Ian Dickinson for Autograph and is produced by David Pugh.
After she took to the stage for the first performance, audience members rushed to social media to gush over the show – dubbing Sheridan’s acting ‘perfect’.
One penned: ‘@sheridansmith1 wow what a performance, a true icon and such talent. One woman show, so incredible @shirleyonstage a must see’.
‘A well deserved standing ovation for @sheridansmith1 this evening after an incredible opening night performance as Shirley Valentine. Craving chips and egg now,’ tweeted another.
Incredible: Stepping into shoes first worn by Pauline Collins in a 1989 film of the same name, Smith will continue her run in London until June
Theatre director David Pugh said: ‘I want to bring Shirley to the people, but only if it’s Sheridan. She is perfect in every way. There hasn’t been an empty seat yet. Sheridan hasn’t missed a laugh’
Others noted that she ‘smashed it out of the park’.
One simply shared: ‘Sheridan Smith as Shirley Valentine in West End: totally utterly divine’.
Previously speaking about taking on the role, Sheridan explained: ‘As a mum now myself I’m delighted to be playing theatre’s best-loved mum and I am honoured to be entrusted by Willy Russell to bring his Shirley to life once again in the West End.
‘Now, to practice cooking chips and egg’.
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