Gary Wilmot, Clare Burt, Joanna Riding

Ada Harris spends her days dusting, darning, polishing and scrubbing. But her first glimpse of a ravishing Christian Dior dress sets her off on a journey that will change her life forever...

From the cobbled streets of post-war London to the shimmering avenues of Paris, Ada transforms the lives of everyone she meets along the way; but can she let go of the past and finally allow her own life to blossom?

This new musical, directed by Daniel Evans, captures the glowing humanity of the novella by Paul Gallico on which it is based. The production began in Sheffield, where it won three UK Theatre Awards including Best Musical.

Richard Taylor is a composer and lyricist for stage, opera and television, whose work includes Beauty and the Beast (CFYT 2017) and The Go-Between (West End). Rachel Wagstaff adapted Sebastian Faulks’s novel Birdsong for the West End.

Clare Burt recreates her award-winning performance as Mrs Harris; her work includes London Road and Sunday in the Park with George (National Theatre) and Big Fish (West End).

Joanna Riding returns to Chichester following The Pajama Game (Festival 2013 and West End), while Gary Wilmot makes a welcome Festival debut.