When it was first performed in the late 18th century, She Stoops To Conquer would have a different prologue for each production.

The tradition died out over the years, but has been revived for Birmingham Rep's latest production.

In Oliver Goldsmith's time the introductory passage would have been written by David Garrick (playwright, actor and theatre manager for whom London's Garrick Theatre was named).

Two centuries later the job has been given to the dramatist Bryony Lavery, author of the award-winning Frozen, which tells the story of a child's disappearance and murder.

This being a comedy of errors, Lavery employs a lighter touch. Before the play starts we see two ushers rowing, the girl usher angry at the boy usher for standing her up. As the girl decides to stage a play to win him over, the curtain rises onto a Georgian set.

Liza Goddard, who plays Mrs Hardcastle, said the modern prologue sets the scene for audience members unfamiliar with the play. "We have a lot of A-Level students in the audience who are studying the play at school and this makes it clear what is going on.

"The language of the play can be difficult and the new prologue starts it off so well."

Goddard believes the age of a play should be no barrier to new generations. "Human beings haven't changed that much over time. All that has really changed is their manners and dress."

The play sees Goddard reunited with her first husband, former Time Lord Colin Baker. The pair met on the set of Seventies TV serial The Brothers, but divorced after a few years.

Was Goddard shocked to discover her stage husband would be played by her ex-husband?

"The nice thing is, we were originally friends before we were married, so it's easy for us to be friends again now," she said, adding quickly "although we don't actually have much to do with each other on stage."

Nowadays she lives in Norfolk with her third husband (number two was Alvin Stardust) David Cobham, a film director, along with their four dogs and a pony. Touring is difficult she admits, especially as her young granddaughter lives nearby.

She said: "I rang home the other day and she and my husband were having fish and chips. It is quite a wrench. I have to go and earn a living though."

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