Harriet Thorpe to star as Princess Margaret in Richard Stirling's A Princess Undone

Harriet Thorpe is to star as Princess Margaret in a revival of Richard Stirling's A Princess Undone, which embarks on a nationwide tour next month prior to a planned London transfer.

Best known for her screen credits including Absolutely Fabulous and The Brittas Empire, Thorpe's extensive stage career includes roles in Cabaret, Wicked, Mamma Mia!, Crazy For You and Great Britain.

Stirling's play – which premiered in Cambridge last year with Stephanie Beacham in the lead role – is based on real-life events that saw the Queen's sister remove several bags of potentially scandalous correspondence from the Queen Mother's home, with the intention of burning them.

Directed by Stirling, the cast also includes David Benson, Giles Cooper and Charles Daish.

A Princess Undone will run in Chelmsford from 5 to 7 October before touring to Lincoln, Salisbury and Malvern.