Two of Britain's best-loved actresses, Dames Judi Dench and Maggie Smith, have taken to the stage together for the first time to perform a West End world première.

Their appearance in the specially written play The Breath of Life by David Hare, which opened on Tuesday, has already almost sold out.

Producer Robert Fox has not taken out any display advertisements for the play at London's Theatre Royal, Haymarket, but advance ticket sales were reported to be nearing the £2m mark.

Dame Maggie won an Oscar for California Suite

The play charts the meeting of two women who once shared the same man.

Madeleine Palmer, played by Dame Maggie, is a retired curator who lives alone on the Isle of Wight.

The popular novelist Angela Beale, played by Dame Judi, who she has previously only met once before, comes to visit her.

In one night they learn more about the hidden course of each of their lives.

Dual appearances

The professional paths of the 67-year-old stars have rarely crossed before.

They have appeared together in two films - Merchant Ivory's A Room with a View as well as Franco Zeffirelli's Tea With Mussolini.

Dame Judi won an Oscar for her role in Shakespeare in Love

Dame Dame Maggie takes second billing to Dame Judi for this play - but simply by virtue of the alphabetical order of their names.

But Dame Judi is reportedly upstairs in dressing room No 2, while Dame Maggie Smith is downstairs in No 1.

Mr Fox told The Observer newspaper: 'It's all been very amicable," says Fox

"On musicals it's much more of a nightmare."

The Breath of Life directed by Howard Davies and designed by William Dudley runs until 21 December.