Alan Bennett

Regional UK Theatre looking forward 2018

Features, Regional, Touring
NST Studio Theatre City

Mark Ludmon examines the year ahead for regional theatre in 2018. Bolton girl Maxine Peake has made her mark on TV and the London stage but she returns to her roots with her second play, Queens of the Coal Age. Based on the true story of four women in Lancashire during the miners’ strike in the 1980s, it will be at the Royal Exchange in Manchester from 28 June to 21 July. Also at the Royal Exchange, Maxine Peake will star in Sarah Frankcom’s new production of Beckett’s Happy Days from 25 May to 23 June. Other highlights coming up at the Royal Exchange include Julie Hesmondhalgh in Kendall Feaver’s new play The Almighty Sometimes and April De Angelis’s new adaptation of Frankenstein. A new production of Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard directed by Michael Boyd, the former artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, will come to the Royal Exchange … Read more

FIRST LOOK: Sara Kestelman in The Lady In The Van at Theatre Royal Bath

Features, Gallery, Regional
Theatre Royal Bath presents Alan Bennett's The Lady In The Van

We hope you enjoy Nobby Clark’s great production photos from the Theatre Royal Bath’s new production of Alan Bennett’s The Lady In The Van directed by Jonathan Church. In 1974, Miss Mary Shepherd, a homeless woman, temporarily moved her clapped out Bedford van into Alan Bennett’s front garden at Gloucester Crescent, Camden. She remained parked there for the next fifteen years. Olivier Award-winner Sara Kestelman (Filthy Business, Copenhagen, Cabaret) stars as Bennett’s beloved character Miss Mary Shepherd. She is joined by Sam Alexander as Alan Bennett, William Gaunt as Underwood and James Northcote who will share the role of Alan Bennett. The full cast includes Emma Amos, Lia Burge, Paul Hickey, Gabrielle Lloyd, David Shaw Parker, Steve Simmonds and Cat Simmons. The Lady In The Van runs until 2 September 2017 THE LADY IN THE VAN TICKETS

Full casting announced for Theatre Royal Bath’s The Lady In The Van

News, Regional
Sarah Kestleman stars in Alan Bennett's The Lady In The Van at Theatre Royal Bath

Olivier Award-winner Sara Kestelman is to star in Jonathan Church’s new production of Alan Bennett’s The Lady in the Van which is to run at the Theatre Royal Bath from 17 August to 2 September 2017. Kestleman will be joined by Sam Alexander as Alan Bennett, William Gaunt as Underwood and James Northcote who will share the role of Alan Bennett. The full cast will also include Emma Amos, Lia Burge, Paul Hickey, Gabrielle Lloyd, David Shaw Parker, Steve Simmonds and Cat Simmons. In 1974, Miss Mary Shepherd, a homeless woman, temporarily moved her clapped out Bedford van into Alan Bennett’s front garden at Gloucester Crescent, Camden. She remained parked there for the next fifteen years. The Lady in the Van will conclude Jonathan Church’s inaugural season as Artistic Director of Theatre Royal Bath. His initial season of five plays included David Hare’s Racing Demon, Hugh Whitemore’s Sand In The … Read more

Alan Bennett’s The Lady In The Van On Film – First Look

News, Video
Alex Jennings and Maggie Smith in The Lady In The Van coming to cinemas in November 2015

We’re pleased to be bringing you this first look at the film adaptation of The Lady In The Van. Lady in the Van is adapted from the Alan Bennett play of the same name and is directed by Nicholas Hytner, who directed the original production at the Queen’s Theatre. Lady in the Van stars Maggie Smith, Alex Jennings, Frances de la Tour, Jim Broadbent and Gwen Taylor and arrives in cinemas in November 2015. The film tells the true story of the relationship between Alan Bennett and the singular Miss Shepherd, a woman of uncertain origins who ‘temporarily’ parked her van in Bennett’s London driveway and proceeded to live there for 15 years. We’re looking forward to this one.