Joanna Riding is one of the true gems of British musical theatre. In a sparkling career that began at the Chichester Festival Theatre in the 80s she has been nominated for four Olivier Awards, winning two, for her role as Julie Jordan in Nicholas Hytner’s revival of Carousel at the National Theatre in 1993 and her performance as Eliza Doolittle in Trevor Nunn‘s revival of My Fair Lady in 2003, also at the National.

This is a quick sketch of Joanna as Babe Williams, the feisty Union rep at the Sleep-Tite Garment Factory in Richard Eyre’s wonderful production of the 1954 Broadway classic The Pajama Game. The West End Transfer from Chichester completes a limited season at London’s Shaftesbury Theatre today, trailing five star reviews.