The Dresser
Synopsis
One fateful night in a small English regional theatre during World War II a troupe of touring actors stage a production of Shakespeares King Lear. Bombs are falling, sirens are wailing, the curtain is up in an hour but the actor/manager Sir who is playing Lear is nowhere to be seen. His dresser Norman must scramble to keep the production alive but will Sir turn up in time and if he does will he be able to perform that night? The Dresser is a wickedly funny and deeply moving story of friendship and loyalty as Sir reflects on his lifelong accomplishments and seeks to reconcile his turbulent friendships with those in his employ before the final curtain.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
The Dresser: Trailer - BBC TwoOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2015-10-23
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Richard Eyre
- Screenplay & Story
- Ronald Harwood
- Original Score
- Stephen Warbeck
- Original Title
- The Dresser
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 49m
- Production Studios
- BBC, Playground Entertainment
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Richard Eyre
Ronald Harwood
Stephen Warbeck
Ben Smithard
Lesley Walker
Colin Callender, Paul Brett, Sonia Friedman, Suzan Harrison, Polly Hill
Department Leadership Roster
Richard Eyre
Director
Ronald Harwood
Writer
Lesley Walker
Editor
Suzan Harrison
Producer
Stephen Warbeck
Original Music Composer
Donal Woods
Production Design
Ben Smithard
Director of Photography
Fotini Dimou
Costume Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Dresser.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Dresser.
Favorite Actors
list8
MNR
BD Release: 2011-2015
Movies released in 4K Blu-ray format - 2011-2015
MovieLens[40K:50K]
Anthony Hopkins Portfolio - Movies
Curated master portfolio of movies starring Anthony Hopkins Portfolio - Movies. Updated frequently. Last updated September 26, 2026.
Similar Titles to The Dresser
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
7.6
7.3
6.5
6.0
6.4
2.0
5.1
7.0
8.0Anime
1.0Anime
4.0
6.6
4.5
7.2
6.0
6.0
More Like The Dresser
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Dresser
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Dresser about?
One fateful night in a small English regional theatre during World War II a troupe of touring actors stage a production of Shakespeares King Lear. Bombs are falling, sirens are wailing, the curtain is up in an hour but the actor/manager Sir who is playing Lear is nowhere to be seen. His dresser Norman must scramble to keep the production alive but will Sir turn up in time and if he does will he be able to perform that night? The Dresser is a wickedly funny and deeply moving story of friendship and loyalty as Sir reflects on his lifelong accomplishments and seeks to reconcile his turbulent friendships with those in his employ before the final curtain.
Who directed The Dresser?
The Dresser was directed by Richard Eyre.
Who stars in The Dresser?
The principal cast of The Dresser includes Ian McKellen, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Watson, Vanessa Kirby, Sarah Lancashire.
When was The Dresser released and how long is it?
The Dresser was released in 2015 with a total runtime of 1h 49m.
Who composed the musical score for The Dresser?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Dresser was composed by Stephen Warbeck.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Dresser?
The Dresser holds official age classifications: US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).