The film stars Albert Finney, Tom Courtenay, Zena Walker, Eileen Atkins, Edward Fox and Michael Gough.

As Norman waits for Sir to come offstage after a typically florid closing address to the audience, we see one way he copes with his job as he takes a nip from a little bottle of brandy always in his back pocket.

The company is hurrying to its next venue, the industrial city of Bradford, where Sir is to give his renowned portrayal of the title character in King Lear.

Arriving in Bradford, however, another source of Norman's anxiety soon becomes clear, for it becomes obvious that Sir's mental capacities are rapidly fading.

Norman rescues him from a confused, almost violent rant in Halifax town square near Piece Hall that lands Sir in hospital.

The middle section of the film takes place nearly entirely in the dressing room, as Norman struggles to prepare Sir for the curtain.

Sir's wandering mind and nearly incoherent ramblings gradually become more focused as Norman gets him to concentrate on applying his makeup, remembering his lines; and we see how dependent the two men are on each other.

[1] In 2015, the BBC produced a variant TV adaptation of the play, starring Anthony Hopkins, Ian McKellen and Emily Watson.

[13] A vocal sample of Albert Finney uttering "227 Lears and I can't remember the first line" in The Dresser can be heard at the end of "P.C.P.