Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads Returns To The Yvonne Arnaud

Published on: 8 Sep, 2015
Updated on: 8 Sep, 2015

This is a ‘not to be missed’ chance to see Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads at Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre.

The play has a long history with the theatre which staged the world premiere of the stage adaption from the BBC television play.

And it is a classic. The three monologues are bleakly comic and poignant but with laughs throughout and standing applause at the end.

They were written over 25 years ago for a modern television audience, but the characters and the situations are wholly recognisable and timeless.

Siobhan Redman plays the bitter Miss Irene Ruddock in the monologue A Lady Of Letters.

Siobhan Redmond has the look of the bitter Miss Irene Ruddock in the monologue A Lady Of Letters. The good hearted Irene writes to everyone and anyone about what she misguidedly sees as the wrongs in society. She moves from rancour through pathos to prison where she unexpectedly finds some peace and happiness for the first time.

Karl Theobald brilliantly as Graham Whittaker in the monologue A Chip In The Sugar.

The surprisingly but perfectly cast Karl Theobald plays Graham in A Chip In The Sugar.

Karl, who starred in the Channel 4 comedy sitcom Green Wing as Dr Martin Dear, brilliantly plays the repressed homosexual living with his mother.

Graham becomes jealous when his mother takes up with an old flame. He ousts his rival in a surprise twist and the earlier status quo with his mother is returned.

Stephanie Cole as Doris in A Cream Cracker Under The Settee, in Talking Heads by Alan Bennett.

Stephanie Cole, who appeared in the original television series in 1982, plays the widow Doris in the third monologue A Cream Cracker Under The Settee.

Doris is utterly convincing with her need for cleanliness and a desperation to keep her independence. She spots a cream cracker under the settee, which she sees as one more example of the incompetence of her workshy home help.

Our stars have followed in the footsteps of such illuminaries as Patricia Routledge as Irene, Alan Bennett himself as Graham and Thora Hird as Doris in this well produced performance by Sarah Esdaile. The sets, lighting and sound all added to the placing of the play in the 1970s in northern England.

Alan Bennett catches the ordinary so perfectly that you nearly forget that you are in a theatre. His ability to squeeze comedy out of tragedy, laughs out of pathos and a story out of the commonplace is legendary. This new production of Talking Heads is Alan Bennett’s work shown at its very best.

A star cast for an excellent evening, laughter all the way with a leavening of uncomfortable reflection thrown in for good measure. I would have kicked myself had I missed this show.

Talking Heads plays each evening until Saturday, September 12, with a matinee on Saturday. Tickets can be booked online at Yvonne Arnaud booking office or from the box office on 01483 440000.

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