THE year is 1941 and Hitler's bombs are falling on war-torn Britain.

This doesn't stop 'Sir,' a redoubtable actor-manager made of the same stuff as the great Sir Henry Irving, from touring the works of Shakespeare to theatres throughout England, under the most trying circumstances ever presented to a theatrical company this century.

Behind the scenes lurks his Dresser, the omnipresent Norman, and the unsung hero of the piece.

Nicholas Lindhurst, a well known face on television, plays Norman, while 'Sir' is played by Julian Glover - one of our most distinguished actors.

The Dresser runs at the Festival Theatre, Malvern, from next Monday for a week.