Dame Judi Dench: 'I Remember It Well' with Gyles Brandreth at Edinburgh Playhouse

Dame Judi Dench in ‘I Remember It Well’ with author and broadcaster Gyles Brandreth will offer a rare chance to see one of the world’s most renowned actresses live on stage.

After a number of sell-out performances in London’s West End, this one-off live show is coming to the Edinburgh Playhouse on August 8. ‘I Remember It Well’ will see Dame Judi look back at her career that spans over 60 years. She will share previously unheard, exclusive stories from her phenomenal life with Gyles Brandreth. As for the reason behind the name of the show, Dame Judi replied: “Because sometimes I don’t remember it at all…”

“Judi Dench is incredible. She loves doing new things – especially things she’s never done before,” Gyles commented.

“When she heard I was going to be in Edinburgh in August, she said, “That sounds rather fun, can I come, too?” As an Edinburgh Festival veteran, there’s no friendlier or more fun audience in the world,” Gyles continued.

“It’s going to be awesome. These days, Judi appears on screen all the time, but we very rarely see her on stage. This is going to be something unique and very special. She’s determined to give Edinburgh a show to remember. She won’t just be telling fun stories. She is promising us some Shakespeare and some singing as well. Don’t miss it.”

Dame Judi Dench OBE/DBE/CH is considered one of Britain’s best actors of all time and is recognised and admired across the world. Ever since playing Ophelia in ‘Hamlet’ at The Old Vic Theatre over 60 years ago, Judi has achieved major popular and critical appreciation for her outstanding performances in both classical and contemporary roles.

She has also won numerous major awards including an Academy Award, 10 BAFTA Awards and a record eight Laurence Olivier Awards for work on stage and screen. As a result of her many achievements over the years, she received an OBE (Order of the British Empire) in 1970, became a DBE (Dame of the British Empire) in 1988, and was awarded a Companion of Honour in 2005. She has also received the Japan Arts Association’s prestigious Praemium Imperiale Laureate Award for Film and Theatre.

Judi’s fame is further recognised globally for her legendary role as M in seven James Bond films.

Her other film work includes the likes of ‘Tea With Mussolini’, directed by Franco Zeffirelli; ‘A Room With a View’ and ‘A Handful of Dust’, both of which won her BAFTA Awards for Best Supporting Actress; ‘Henry V’ and ‘Hamlet’, both directed Kenneth Branagh; ‘Philomena’, directed by Stephen Frears; Jane Eyre, directed by Cary Fukunaga; ‘My Week with Marilyn’, directed by Simon Curtis; ‘J. Edgar’, directed by Clint Eastwood; the hugely successful India-set comedy ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’, and its sequel ‘The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’, both directed by John Madden; Roald Dahl’s ‘Esio Trot’, opposite Dustin Hoffman; and ‘Shakespeare in Love’, directed by John Madden. Judi can now be seen on screen in Richard Eyre’s, Allelujah!