One fateful night in a small English regional theatre during World War II a troupe of touring actors stage a production of Shakespeares King Lear. Bombs are falling, sirens are wailing, the curtain is up in an hour but the actor/manager Sir who is playing Lear is nowhere to be seen. His dresser Norman must scramble to keep the production alive but will Sir turn up in time and if he does will he be able to perform that night? The Dresser is a wickedly funny and deeply moving story of friendship and loyalty as Sir reflects on his lifelong accomplishments and seeks to reconcile his turbulent friendships with those in his employ before the final curtain.
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Cast
10 people
Ian McKellen
Norman
Known for
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
Anthony Hopkins
Sir
Known for
Westworld
The Silence of the Lambs
Emily Watson
Her Ladyship
Known for
Chernobyl
Corpse Bride
Vanessa Kirby
Irene
Known for
The Fantastic 4: First Steps
The Crown
Sarah Lancashire
Madge
Known for
Black Doves
Happy Valley
Edward Fox
Thornton
Known for
Taboo
Gandhi
Tom Brooke
Oxenby/Edmond
Known for
Slow Horses
Sherlock
Matthew Cottle
Albany
Known for
Pistol
The Responder
Ian Conningham
Kent
Known for
Taboo
The Girl Before
Helen Bradbury
Regan
Known for
Sherlock
The Borgias
Richard Eyre Director · Ronald Harwood Writer Stephen Warbeck Composer
United States release May 30, 2016 · Produced in United Kingdom · Production Playground Entertainment, BBC Film
Production
BBC
Production
Playground Entertainment
Production
BBC Film
Studio
United Kingdom
Produced in
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
English
Release dates
United Kingdom · October 31, 2015
Theatrical
United States · May 30, 2016
TV
Netherlands
October 31, 2015 · Theatrical
Poland
April 3, 2016 · Digital
Spain
May 8, 2016 · Theatrical
More from Richard Eyre
Other films they directed, best known first.
Some details come from TheTVDB.