Harwood’s last completely new West End play, Mahler’s Conversion, which starred Anthony Sher, was a critical flop (although he did subsequently adapt a Francis Veber comedy, See U Next Tuesday). However, since then he’s won acclaim for such screenplays as “The Pianist” (which bagged him an Oscar) and “Being Julia.” His latest project is another screenplay, for a Roman Polanski-directed movie of “Oliver Twist” starring Ben Kingsley.

Kingsley distinguished himself onstage with the Peter Hall Company when it was resident at the Old Vic in the 1990’s (he starred in Hall’s much-admired production of Waiting for Godot). For the past couple of seasons, though, Hall’s base has been the Theatre Royal, Bath, where this staging of The Dresser started.

The Dresser, about a lead actor’s relationship with his dresser, was inspired by Harwood’s own time working as dresser for Donald Wolfit. The play was made into a successful film starring Albert Finney and Tom Courtenay in 1983.

Lyndhurst is best-known for his long-running role in the TV sitcom “Only Fools and Horses.” Glover, however, is a far more experienced stage actor, having played a gamut of great roles from King Lear to Henry IV — he was also in the original cast of Stephen Daldry’s career-making An Inspector Calls production. His film credits include “Troy,” “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” and “Cry Freedom.”

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