A Dish of Tea with Doctor Johnson

Tonight sees the opening of a new play, A Dish of Tea with Doctor Johnson, based on writings of James Boswell.

The play features Ian Redford as Dr Johnson and Russel Barr as a host of other characters including Boswell and Joshua Reynolds. It is based on Boswell's The Life of Johnson and Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides, and, according to the producers, it is an "[e]vening of stories and conversation [that] brings to life some of the most colourful figures of the eighteenth century."

The show premieres at the Warwick Arts Centre this evening and will go on tour in the UK until April 9, 2011. Trudie Styler will guest star in two performances of the show which is to be held in the Customs House, South Shields on March 4 and 5.