Penelope Keith excited about return to Richmond Theatre (From Sutton Guardian)

Penelope Keith excited about return to Richmond Theatre

10:00am Sunday 7th October 2012 in Freetime By Amy Dyduch

Award winning actress Penelope Keith stars in Good Grief, in which she plays June Pepper – a recent widow whose been instructed by her late husband to keep a journal of her feelings.

Penelope Keith, who shot to fame in the 1970s with her roles in the Good Life and To the Manor Born, comes to Richmond Theatre on Monday and speaks to Amy Dyduch about the play.

Penelope, who opened the show in Bath last month, says it was the writing that attracted her to the script.

She says: “When I do any play, I look at the words and the way different people use them. The past two plays I did were 300 years old, so I thought I would like to go on stage and do something a bit more modern.”

She believes the play, written by playwright and journalist Keith Waterhouse to explore Fleet Street was in the 90s, will appeal to anyone.

She says: “I do things because I think the plays are good and I hope any audience will enjoy it. I never do a play and think this is for a certain audience – that seems to be the way now.”

The play, which sees Penelope create ‘journal entries’ by way of monologues, will stay at Richmond Theatre until Saturday, October 13.

Penelope, who first played at Richmond Theatre in 1976, describes her character as a “forthright northern lady who is going through a very difficult time”.

Looking forward to coming to Richmond Theatre, she says: “I have played at Richmond more than any other theatre so have seen it go through its various changes. I love the theatre; I just adore it.”

Good Grief, Richmond Theatre, October 8 to 13. Tickets £15 to £35, available from atgtickets.com/richmond, box office 0844 8717651.