Wearing The Trousers: the true story of Vesta Tilley – Alma Tavern Theatre

Vesta Tilley was one of the most successful cross-dressing music hall stars that most of the world has never heard of.

Spanning Vesta’s life from childhood to her mid-seventies, Vesta Tilley has been written for Seizing The Day Company’s diva performer, Alexandra Pickford. Alex is also in her mid-seventies and will bring the show to life in a series of flashbacks supported by a multi-role cast of three additional actors.

Using original music and songs from Vesta Tilley’s playbook and some reworked pieces, the story leads us from her dotage in Monaco back to her theatre debut aged five, to the extraordinary People’s Tribute book, presented to her by Ellen Terry and signed by admirers Charlie Chaplin, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Harry Houdini and two million members of the public, to celebrate her career and retirement from the stage.