REHEARSALS are under way for the revival of 84 Charing Cross Road at Salisbury Playhouse, starring Janie Dee and Clive Francis.

The play was first performed at Salisbury Playhouse in 1981 to great critical acclaim, and transferred to the West End and Broadway where it won a host of awards and accolades. The revival is being directed by James Roose-Evans who adapted the book and directed the original production 34 years ago.

84 Charing Cross Road centres on the 20-year correspondence between witty America writer Helene Hanff and reserved English bookseller Frank Doel. What started as a simple request for a rare book in 1949 flourished into a deep friendship which spanned continents in this heart-warming tale of two cities. The play is a bittersweet true story showing how letter writing can forge strong bonds between people living very different lives.

“I found it delightful adapting a true story about real people who had such a profound effect on each other,” said James. “This is a funny and heart-warming play and it’s simply wonderful to come full circle and bring it back to Salisbury Playhouse.

“Just because our telephones have changed shape and these days we all use computers to write, rather than pens, doesn’t mean that we’re not moved by beautiful language and simple stories and for that reason I’m sure it will resonate with audiences as much today as it did back then.”

Olivier Award winner Janie Dee has starred in numerous West End plays and musicals, television series, films and radio plays. Last autumn she played Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream for a tour of Russia and Asia with Shakespeare’s Globe, and earlier in 2014 she appeared alongside Dame Angela Lansbury in the West End revival of Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit.

Clive Francis was in the BBC’s hit drama The Missing. His film and television credits include A Clockwork Orange, Yes Prime Minister and Mr Turner. On stage, he has recently appeared in Enron and The Madness of George III.

The play is being performed in the Main House from Thursday, February 5 to Saturday, February 28.

For tickets contact the Salisbury Playhouse box office on 01722 320333 or visit salisburyplayhouse.com.