Barbara Cartland play premieres in Worthing

A new comedy about the 'Queen of Romance', Barbara Cartland, will premiere at the Connaught Theatre, Worthing next month.

Titled In the Pink, the show is set in Cartland's "lavish mansion" and is inspired by autobiographical material from the famously prolific author.

According to press material:

It's 1981 – the year of that Royal wedding. The real drama, though, is at Barbara Cartland's mansion. When Barbara's pet Pekinese vanishes, Rush, a hard-bitten journalist from the Sunday Intruder, suspects foul play. Was it the drunken maid, the frustrated chef or the spinster secretary? Will High Tea ever be the same?

Playwright Ann Feloy said: "I was surprised that a play about Barbara Cartland had never been written before. Here was an iconic, international figure, whose life spanned the 20th century and who today is still a household name and her colourful personality and life seemed the perfect elements for a comedy. She was the step grand-mother to Princess Diana and had been the 'It Girl' of the 1920s."

Cartland, who died in 2000, wrote over 700 novels and has become synonymous with the romance genre.

"Learning and writing about her was fascinating and a joy," Foley added. "We hope she would be pleased with her portrayal in this play as we believe it reveals the real person behind the pink chiffon and false eyelashes."

In the Pink is at the Connaught Theatre, Worthing from 18 to 20 June 2015.