Penelope Keith, Amanda Root

Nothing will grow for eccentric, high-born Mrs St Maugham in the dry earth of her once grand Sussex garden. Indoors, the situation is even worse. Her wild and damaged granddaughter, sixteen-year-old Laurel, sets fires and throws tantrums.

When the enigmatic Miss Madrigal arrives to take up the post of Laurel’s companion, the household is disconcerted by her evasive oddity. Where has she come from, and why does she refuse to speak about her past?

Both singular comedy and haunting mystery, this startling insight into mother-daughter relationships is regarded as one of the twentieth century’s most remarkable plays. The author of many books and dramas, Enid Bagnold is still best known for her 1935 novel, National Velvet.

Penelope Keith makes a welcome return to Chichester to play Mrs St Maugham. Her roles here encompass The Apple Cart, The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Way of the World, Entertaining Angels and Mrs Pat.

Amanda Root, returning to Chichester following The Deep Blue Sea (2011), plays Miss Madrigal; Oliver Ford Davies, who appeared in Goodnight Mister Tom (2011), makes his Festival debut.

Alan Strachan directed Entertaining Angels (2006) and Mrs Pat (2015) with Penelope Keith at Chichester; his many West End productions range from plays by Coward and Ayckbourn to Tennessee Williams and Shakespeare.