Dame Judi Dench: A Lifetime of Stories at Chichester Festival Theatre

★★★★★

Some evenings at the theatre are about watching a story unfold. Others are about simply being in the room while someone tells you theirs.

For one unforgettable evening at Chichester Festival Theatre, the audience was captivated by Dame Judi Dench as she looked back across more than seven decades in the performing arts, sharing memories of her career, friendships, family and the people who have shaped her life in celebration of the release of her newest memoir, “Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It?”.

Dame Judi was joined on stage by her friend and writing partner Brendan O’Hea. The evening felt less like a formal interview and more like sitting down with someone who happened to have an extraordinary lifetime of stories to tell, much like an older neighbour or relative who shares stories at a social gathering. And there were plenty of them.

From her time on the set of James Bond to working alongside some of the biggest names in British entertainment, the night offered an intimate glimpse behind the careers audiences have watched from afar.

One particularly memorable story came from her time with Louis Theroux. She spoke warmly about filming his documentary and clearly holds fond memories both of their time together, and of him as a person. Theroux even appeared in a video cameo during the evening, prompting one of the biggest laughs of the night when Dame Judi briefly found herself unable to remember his name and had to turn to O’Hea for help.

It was a wonderfully human moment. For all the famous names and extraordinary achievements, this was Dame Judi Dench simply being Dame Judi Dench.

Her stories about Billy Connolly were equally entertaining. She recalled working with him before spending an evening at the bar, watching the hours disappear while knowing she would have to be up and working the following day. At one point, she questioned whether she could actually work on so little sleep, only to keep going because she was having such a good time.

Dane Judi spoke about her late husband, Michael, and offered glimpses into a more personal side of her life away from the stage and screen. Perhaps most touching were the stories of the trees in her garden, each one dedicated to someone who has passed away.

The trees are not chosen at random. Each has its own meaning and connection to the person it represents. Among them is a crab apple tree dedicated to her close friend and fellow acting legend Dame Maggie Smith.

Behind the awards, iconic roles and international fame is someone who places enormous value on friendship, memory and the people she has shared her life with. Perhaps that in itself is worthy of her being considered a national treasure (to which she hates being called by the way!).

Dame Judi spoke about having the Shaftesbury Theatre renamed the Judi Dench Theatre, acknowledging what an incredible thing that is while suggesting that more theatres should be named after those who have made an impact on the profession that have passed on. And she already had someone in mind; Dame Maggie Smith.

There was, of course, plenty of laughter. Her natural warmth and ability to tell a story made even the smallest memories entertaining, while O’Hea provided the perfect companion throughout the evening.

After more than seventy years in the profession, Dame Judi Dench has accumulated a lifetime of memories and stories. Therefore, it is no surprise that she filled a little over two hours with the audience hungry to hear more. I guess we will just have to read the book!