London
Guests included Phyllida Lloyd, Haydn Gwynne and Sarah Hadland
Polly Findlay's production of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie opened at the Donmar Warehouse last night and guests including Haydn Gwynn, Phyllida Lloyd and Sarah Hadland were on hand to help celebrate.
Starring Lia Williams as the titular character, the piece is set in a girls' school and follows the exploits of Brodie and her specially-selected set of pupils. The story was originally a series of articles published in the New Yorker magazine by Muriel Spark, before being published as a novel in 1961. It was first adapted for the stage in 1966 with Vanessa Redgrave in the lead role, while three years later a film version starring Maggie Smith was released.
The new version is adapted by Scottish playwright David Harrower, and is directed by Polly Findlay. It has design by Lizzie Clachan, lighting design by Charles Balfour, sound design by Paul Arditti, composition by Marc Tritschler and movement direction by Naomi Said.
In her review for WhatsOnStage, Daisy Bowie-Sell said of the title role: 'It's a superb part and Williams emerges from it a complete star.'