The actress — who stars in the upcoming CTG presentation of The Importance of Being Earnest at the Ahmanson Theatre — will direct Caroline John in the lead role for the London premiere Jan. 17-Feb. 18. Redgrave will then perform the work herself for Los Angeles audiences Feb. 27 as directed by Joseph Hardy.

Previously seen in a number of sold-out readings, Nightingale now takes to the stage in a full production. Written by Redgrave, the solo piece was inspired by memories of her maternal grandmother Beatrice Kempson and paints "the story of a woman whose voice, like the small brown bird of the title, can only be heard in the dark."

The new work completes a trilogy of works penned by the stage star about her family: her Tony Award-nominatedShakespeare For My Father dealt with her father, the late Michael Redgrave and The Mandrake Root was loosely based on her mother, actress Rachel Kempson.

A member of one of five generations of actors in her family, Redgrave's other credits included Talking Heads, The Exonerated, Black Comedy, Aren't We All, Moon Over Buffalo and another Tony-nominated turn in Mrs. Warren's Profession. She was nominated for an Academy Award for the film "Gods and Monsters," her second nod after her title role in "Georgy Girl."

Redgrave next takes on the role of Lady Bracknell in the Sir Peter Hall staging of The Importance of Being Earnest which plays Jan. 17-March 15 then heads out on a tour to conclude at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. For more information, visit www.redgrave.com.