Amanda Abbington’s play in a small London theatre has failed to sell out any performances – despite the inevitable publicity generated by the Strictly scandal.

The Sherlock actress is appearing at the Park Theatre in North London in the play When it Happens To You, but less than half the venue’s 200 seats have been sold on many dates.

On Tuesday night theatre-goers spotted more than a dozen empty seats on its opening night on Wednesday, traditionally one of the biggest nights in a show’s run.

Amanda is waiting for the BBC to reveal the outcome of its internal investigation into her alleged mistreatment on its flagship Saturday night show, Strictly Come Dancing.

She claimed she was bullied by professional dancer Giovanni Pernice.

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Amanda Abbington’s new play is struggling to sell tickets as she made her debut in new play When it Happens To You on Wednesday evening

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The Sherlock actress is appearing at the Park Theatre in North London in the play When it Happens To You, but less than half the venue’s 200 seats have been sold on many dates

The 52-year-old actress dropped out of rehearsals in October last year and later filed a formal complaint against Giovanni, 33.

He has denied Amanda’s claims of ‘threatening and abusive behaviour’ in the training room and it is reported that his team are confident he will be cleared.

Amanda tearfully told Krishnan Guru-Murthy in an interview on Channel 4 last week he had subjected her to ‘humiliating behaviour of a sexual nature’ which she had alerted producers to.

While both camps brace themselves for the results of the investigation, Amanda, former partner of actor Martin Freeman, has been rehearsing for the play – her first job since the Strictly saga.

She stars as a mother holding her family together after a life-changing event.

The play runs for a month until August 31 and is said to be about ‘mining the depths of human courage and the resolve to survive following a shattering incident’.

In an interview ahead of the show, Amanda said: ‘It is the story about love and over coming adversity the subject even though it is what it is there is something joyful and uplifting and encouraging.’

‘When I first read the play I couldn’t put it down. I had to finish it in one sitting. I t is such a beautifully written piece of theatre,’ she added.

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Amanda is waiting for the BBC to reveal the outcome of its internal investigation into her alleged mistreatment on Strictly, against her partner Giovanni Pernice

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The play runs for a month until August 31 and is said to be about ‘mining the depths of human courage and the resolve to survive following a shattering incident’

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View gallery

In an interview ahead of the show, Amanda said: ‘It is the story about love and over coming adversity the subject even though it is what it is there is something joyful and uplifting and encouraging’

‘Any actress given this, it would be a gift if a role. It is a beautiful piece of story telling with incredible characters with a message that needs to be told.’

Amanda claimed on Lorraine last week that she texted producers to say ‘this is awful’ and that Giovanni ‘hates me’ within three days of joining Strictly.

Speaking to Christine Lampard she revealed how problems began early on, saying: ‘Week one, third day. I’ve got texts to the producer on day three going ‘This is awful, he hates me, I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. I’m trying my best, I promise you’. So that was the first week.’

Asked whether there were further discussions at that stage, she said: ‘Many, many.’

Amanda added: ‘It was inappropriate, it was mean, it was nasty, it was bullying and I put up with it for five, six weeks.

‘It started very early on and when it started to happen I would shut down because I recognised those red flags.

‘And so I would shut down and it would be difficult to get in, and that would be a self-fulfilling prophecy.’

Talking about her schedule on the show, she said: ‘I was going into the rehearsal room every day. I’ve been in rehearsal rooms for 32 years.’

Amanda explained that she was currently working in a rehearsal room ahead of her forthcoming play ‘When it Happens to You’, which begins at the Park Theatre in London on July 31.

And she described rehearsal rooms as ‘one of the most beautiful, safe spaces’, adding: ‘I know what rehearsal rooms are supposed to be life.

‘I don’t care what background you’re from – whether it’s dancing, acting, singing – you have a duty of care to bring into that rehearsal room compassion, understanding, sensitivity and kindness.

‘And that wasn’t extended to me (at Strictly). And so I just said I don’t think this is right.’

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Source: New York Post