Summer and Smoke opening night: 'We need more incredible women directors like Rebecca Frecknall'

The Almeida theatre's production of Tennessee Williams' Summer and Smoke opened last night, with the cast, led by Patsy Ferran (Treasure Island, My Mum's A Tw*t), who reflected on the show's relevance and director Rebecca Frecknall's vision, with a set composed of nine upright pianos around the stage.

Written in 1948, Williams' piece follows Alma, the daughter of a reverend, who falls in love with the doctor's son (Matthew Needham) next door. Ferran describes the role of Alma as "a gift of a part…flawed and funny".

WhatsOnStage's Daisy Bowie Sell said in her review that "Frecknall directs a revelatory production", saying that Ferran's Alma was "a firecracker, waiting to go off."

The Almeida recently announced it would offer free tickets to under 25s for three performances of the show in April.

Summer and Smoke runs until 7 April.