JUDI DENCH - DAME JUDI SET FOR WEST END RETURN AFTER INJURY

DAME JUDI SET FOR WEST END RETURN AFTER INJURY

Dame Judi Dench will return to the West End production of Madame De Sade on Wednesday having recovered from an ankle injury.

The 74-year-old suffered a severely sprained ankle after a fall outside the Wyndham's theatre in London and was forced to pull out of four performances of the Donmar Warehouse play.

The veteran actress will have to use a cane during performances of the Yukio Mishima play until her ankle has fully recovered, a spokesman for the theatre company confirmed.

"The company are working together to facilitate any changes this may mean to the onstage performances and technical aspects of the production," a statement added.

Dame Judi commented: "I am thrilled to be returning to Madame de Sade, and would like to thank everyone for their support during this time.

"We are having enormous fun as a company, and I am looking forward to getting back to the role of Madame de Montreuil."

Directed by Michael Grandage, the 1965 play tells of the notorious exploits of the Marquis de Sade through the eyes of six women.

Starring Rosamund Pike in the title role and also featuring Frances Barber, the new production has received poor reviews.