Mrs Henderson Presents musical confirms Bath premiere

It's been announced that Theatre Royal Bath will be the location for the world premiere of Mrs Henderson Presents, a new musical based on the 2005 film starring Judi Dench and the late Bob Hoskins.

The show features a book and direction by Terry Johnson (One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, The Graduate, La Cage aux Folles), lyrics by Don Black (Tell Me on a Sunday, Stephen Ward, Sunset Boulevard) and music by George Fenton and Simon Chamberlain, who composed and musically directed the filim Mrs Henderson Presents respectively.

The film, which was nominated for four BAFTA Awards including Best Original Screenplay, two Oscars and three Golden Globe Awards, is based on the true story of the Windmill Theatre in London. 70-year-old recently-widow Mrs Laura Henderson buys the theatre as a way of spending her time and money, and appoints manager Vivian Van Damm.

As the war looms Mrs Henderson searches for something to boost morale and box office, coming up with the idea of The Windmill Girls – glamorous young women posing as nude statues. Audiences flock and as the Blitz hits London, The Windmill provides a refuge for all, boasting the spirit-raising slogan "We Never Close".

Casting has yet to be announced for the show, however in a recent interview Lesley Manville hinted at an interest in the lead role.

Mrs Henderson Presents will open at Theatre Royal Bath on 14 August 2015 and run until 5 September 2015 prior to a planned West End transfer.