Actors set to take
audiences back to the 1970s in a trio of classic Alan Bennett
The Castle Players have been putting the final touches to
their three Alan Bennett plays in readiness for performing at The Witham from
Thursday 11th to Saturday 13th November.
Each of the three one act plays has a small cast so,
although they are short, the actors have a lot of lines to learn. The
importance of getting the lines exactly right isn’t lost on them.
Sarah Fells, who plays frumpy office worker
Doris in Green Forms, said “It has been great fun. The musicality of the lines
is beautiful, and really gives you the motivation to get it right. Every line
is perfectly placed.”
Bunny Forsyth (pictured), who plays the title character in
‘A Visit from Miss Prothero’ said "Working on Miss Prothero has been a
mixture of hilarious and perplexing as she is such a complex and, in many ways,
unpleasant character - she takes passive aggression to a new dimension! Yet
that is Bennett at his finest and the dialogue is just a joy to experiment
with.”
Although the plays are set in everyday situations, Bennett
has the skill of getting under the skin of the characters and revealing a lot
about their personalities, bringing out quirks and foibles others may not observe.
Peter Firby (pictured with Bunny
Forsyth in ‘A Visit from Miss Prothero’) likens the play to “sitting back in
your gran's best armchair. The dry humour and one-line quips feel so
reassuringly 1970's”.
New director Adele Tyler said “His plays are a joy to work
on and a real test for both director and actors alike to get right. I don’t
know why The Castle Players hasn’t done any Alan Bennett before. People coming to see the three one act plays are in for a
treat.”
Alan Bennett is one of the UK’s most
popular playwrights, known for film adaptations like The Lady in the Van, and
The History Boys. His short plays, like the series of Talking Heads shorts, are
also much loved.
Chair of The Castle Players Laurence
Sach said "Alan Bennett has such an insight into the lives of ordinary
people. His plays are rooted in genuine, recognisable characters and his
perceptive dialogue, full of humour, tells you all you need to know about the
lives they lead."
You can still
get tickets for the Trio of One Act Plays by Alan Bennett from The Witham box
office or online - £12 (£10 concession)
Performed at The Witham,
Barnard Castle - 01833 631107 – www.thewitham.org.uk
Thursday 11 November to
Saturday 13 November at 7.30 pm and Saturday 13 November at 2.30pm.
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