Amanda Abbington received a standing ovation from teary-eyed audience members following her debut performance.
In When It Happens To You at the Park Theatre in London tonight.
Hundreds of live performance and theatre fans flocked to the North London establishment in Finsbury Park on Wednesday night as Sherlock actor Amanda, 50.
Took to the stage after a harrowing couple of months following her Strictly Come Dancing experience last year.
The talented actress made allegations about dance partner Giovanni Pernice’s tough training techniques last year.
In January, it was reported the 51-year-old requested footage of the duo’s ‘tense’ training sessions, leading to a misconduct investigation.
The results of the investigation are expected to be revealed this week as Giovanni’s camp is confident that he will be cleared.
However, Amanda put on a brave face as she took to the stage, with audience members praising her ‘strength’ and ‘willpower’ to carry on in her stellar career. The theatrical memoir by a New York Times best-selling author, When It Happens to You is based on Tawni O’Dell’s lived experience of holding her family together after a life changing event.
Former Strictly Come Dancing star Amanda Abbington led the ensemble cast in a show that mines the depths of human courage and the resolve to survive following a shattering incident. Directed by Park Theatre’s Artistic Director Jez Bond, the thrilling drama is fuelled by tears, laughter, hope and love.
Tawni O’Dell’s powerful ‘theatrical memoir’ is based on her experience of the shockwaves of trauma following her daughter’s brutal rape by a stranger who broke into her home.
Pertinent to the issues raised recently by Abbington about her stint on Strictly Come Dancing, Day said: “We feel very safe and supported in handling this subject matter. But there are moments when you step out of the rehearsal room, take a breath and go back in again.”
In the 85-minute thriller, Abbington character Tara blames herself for not protecting her daughter, and Esme turns her shame and anger on her loved ones.
It’s no doubt a storyline which cuts deep with Amanda after she revealed the shocking backlash she’s received after her stint on Strictly Come Dancing. Last week, Amanda told Channel 4 that after making the allegations about Giovanni, she and her daughter both received death and rape threats from cruel keyboard warriors.
“Brutal, relentless, unforgiving…rape threats to myself and my daughter and threats of death to my son,” she told Channel 4. She detailed the abuse she’s suffered since accusing her former co-star Giovanni Pernice of abusive behaviour, which he denies.
Of being apart of When It Happens To You, Abbington recently said: “When Jez sent me When It Happens to You, I immediately read it in one sitting – I couldn’t put it down. The story is important and necessary, and the characters are nuanced, complex and completely relatable. The Mother character of Tara is a gift of a role for any actor, and I’m thrilled to be working with Jez Bond who I know will direct the piece with the care and sensitivity it deserves.”
Meanwhile, Jez Bond said: “When It Happens to You is an important, timely and powerful piece of theatre. I’m thrilled to be working with Amanda Abbington who read the play and, like me, immediately felt compelled to do it.
“The best theatre is often a story told simply that connects to the heart of the audience, and I can’t think of a more powerful play to present within the intimate setting of Park200. By equal turns heartbreaking and hopeful, we invite you in to experience this truly theatrical page turner.”
Following her incredible performance on the first night of the month-long run, Amanda received a standing ovation from audience members who simultaneously wiped away tears from their eyes after her emotive performance. Amanda herself broke down in tears when the crowds stood on their feet to applaud the cast for their spectacular rendition of the best-selling novel.
Speaking to The Mirror, one audience member praised Amanda for her professionalism amid the ongoing controversy surrounding her time on Strictly Come Dancing.
“We all know that Amanda is an incredible actress, but tonight has been almost a religious experience,” they gushed. “To see her perform live, knowing about everything she has on her shoulders at the minute and everything that has been weighing her down, it’s amazing how she managed to keep her emotions in check in such a moving play. It’s almost as if she could sympathise with the character she plays in this. Truly marvellous,” they added.
“It was so, so, good. Amanda put her all into it, that was very obvious to see. She has such a wonderful stage presence and it was amazing to see her act in real time. She really is talented,” another audience member commented.
“Given all that she has been through, Amanda put on one hell of a performance tonight. Everyone needs to go and see this play if they can. You’ll be thinking about it for days no doubt,” someone else enthused.
Meanwhile, another fan added: “For such a dark and raw subject matter to be played out so delicately is a credit to Amanda and the rest of the cast and people behind the story. It’s not an easy thing theme to navigate, but it shows the love between a mother and daughter, and more importantly, their unbreakable bond.”
“Amanda Abbington’s new play is so super powerful. Floods of tears. She was amazing,” another echoed.
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Source: Tampa Bay Times
