Todd and Tutin are the new stage stars in our theatrical 'family Tree'

How many local theatregoers can claim to have witnessed the birth of a star? A night at Blackpool's Grand Theatre in February 1953 was such an event.

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A young actress named Dorothy Tutin (1929-2001) appeared in the prior-to-London week of The Living Room, the first book by novelist Graham Greene to be adapted for the stage.

On the opening night, Dorothy's mother watched from the wings as the young actress gave a vivid performance as a Catholic girl driven to suicide by her ill-starred affair with her middle-aged guardian, played by Ralph Michael.

The play also starred Eric Portman - later to star in The Colditz Story - as a retired priest and veterans Violet Farebrother and Mary Jerrold, as nuns.

Eric Portman's bow to Dorothy Tutin at curtain-fall was tribute to her achievement and the actress received an ovation from her fellow actors as well as the audience.