Princess Diana will “come back to life” again as a new play about the royal’s explosive Panorama interview is set to take to the stage.
The Interview – written by author and broadcaster Jonathan Maitland and directed by Michael Fentiman – will be running at the Park Theatre in London from 27 October to 25 November 2023.
And now new photos have been released showing actress Yolanda Kettle as the Princess of Wales looking serious and pensive.
Yolanda has starred in Netflix’s The Crown as the wife of inventor Jeremy Fry, whilst Tibu Fortes who’s played in Saving Christmas Spirit will be portraying former BBC journalist Martin Bashir.
The new pictures show Yolanda with Diana’s distinctive short blonde hair.
She’s also wearing a navy suit and white top, clothes which appear to replicate those Diana wore in the original BBC programme.
The actress looks down at her feet as a black camera is pointed in her direction and she sits on a formal grey chair.
The new play is described as giving “an insight into the story behind the interview: the woman who gave it, the man who made it happen and the institution that broadcast it”.
Fentiman said: “Jonathan Maitland is a writer of great integrity and bravery and it’s been an honour to be trusted with his play.”
Maitland previously told PA that “substantial chunks” of the interview would not be used due to copyright law and the view of the Prince of Wales.
He said/: “The things that led to the famous interview and the events that came after it revealed much about our country and its institutions.
“It’s definitely the stuff of drama and I can’t wait to see our superb cast and brilliant director Michael Fentiman bring it all to life.”
A report in 2021 concluded that the BBC covered up “deceitful behaviour” by Bashir to secure the meeting and led to a call from William for it never to be aired again.
The cast includes Finding Alice star Matthew Flynn as former royal butler-turned-I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! contestant Paul Burrell, Belgravia star Naomi Frederick as a character called Luciana Dyson and Spotless actor Ciaran Owens as Matt Wiessler.
