SHERIDAN Smith has broken her silence after the final performance of her West End play Opening Night.
The 42-year-old actor took to Instagram on Saturday night to share an emotional post with her 758k followers.
Alongside a sweet snap of the actors during a curtain call, she wrote: “The best night with the best team! Will never forget these people or the show.”
Sheridan was forced to end its run two months early after slow ticket sales and cutting reviews.
Opening Night tells the story of functioning alcoholic actress Myrtle Gordon (played by Sheridan) who gets a second chance.
The play is based on the 1977 drama film of the same name starring Gena Rowlands.
Though it opened in March and was scheduled to run at the Gielgud Theatre until 27 July, Opening Night closed last night (May 18).
Sheridan previously broke down in tears while discussing the failure of her play Opening Night.
Speaking to Sunday Times, she admitted she “felt like she let everybody down”.
The bereft star said: “I was just heartbroken for the company. I felt that I’d let them down in a way, that I couldn’t sell it”.
Producers Wessex Grove confirmed that the show would be coming to a revised end in a statement.
It said: “It is an honour to produce this beautiful new musical in the West End, and everyone at Wessex Grove is proud to have delivered the artistic vision of Ivo Van Hove and Rufus Wainwright and their incredible team, led by the exquisite Sheridan Smith.
“In a challenging financial landscape, Opening Night was always a risk and, while the production may not have had the life we had hoped for, we feel immensely proud of the risk we took and of this extraordinary production.
“Our world class cast delivers a brilliant show night after night, and there are still five weeks left to see Sheridan Smith in the role of a lifetime.
“What is sure-fire and safe has its place. But Wessex Grove exists to produce great artists in the West End and to provide the space for original, artist-led productions in the commercial sector, productions exactly like Opening Night.
“We’re grateful for all of the support everyone has given us as we made this show, and look forward to celebrating the rest of the run.”
It’s not all doom and gloom for the star as earlier this month we revealed she is set to play Ann Ming in a new ITV drama.
A source said: “Sheridan is taking on the role for a new ITV drama based on Ann’s book, For The Love Of Julie.
“Ann campaigned tirelessly to change the 800-year-old double jeopardy law and saw Julie’s killer, Billy Dunlop, eventually jailed for life.
“She will work with Sheridan and ITV on the four-part drama which will follow Ann’s fight for justice for Julie.
“It is an incredibly emotional story and Sheridan has promised Ann she will do her, and Julie, proud.
“Filming will start later this year.”
