The Crescent Theatre’s début production at the Old Rep brings two of Alan Bennett’s much loved “Talking Heads” to the stage, with performances on Thursday 30th and Friday 31st January, and Saturday 1st February.
“Bed Among The Lentils”, first performed by Dame Maggie Smith in 1988, tells the story of alcoholic vicar’s wife Susan. Suffocated by her life, she scoffs the communion wine and runs up huge debts locally buying sherry. So, to avoid detection, she has to go to Leeds to get more … where starts her affair with grocer Ramesh.
“A Chip In The Sugar” looks at the life of middle-aged Graham, a repressed homosexual with a history of mental health issues (first played by Bennett himself) and how this is turned upside down when his Mam, with whom he still lives, reunites with her old flame Frank.
Both pieces capture the essence of who Bennett is as a writer and the appeal of his work. As Maura Judges, director for “Bed Among The Lentils”, explains: ‘He writes about ordinary people, and we watch those ordinary people telling us their ordinary stories … and we find them totally fascinating.’
Fellow director Andrew Crocker, at the helm of “A Chip In The Sugar”, agrees. ‘Alan Bennett writes characters that are very relatable, with traits we can all recognise such as shyness and loneliness. He’s very perceptive of the minutiae of life and has a great talent for observation, and an ear for language and phrasing.’
Tasked with bringing these two relatable characters to life are Elliot Archer (Graham) and Michelle Smith (Susan). Both hope that audiences will find the humour in these stories while empathising with the characters who tell them. But how do they feel about performing in a cast of one?
‘Performing a monologue is a huge challenge,’ says Smith. ‘You’re completely on your own, nobody’s there to save you … so I’m very excited but it’s nerve-wracking!’
Archer takes a different view, despite this being the first one-person play he’s done. ‘I like the challenge of being on my own. I don’t really feel nervous generally but we’ll see on opening night I suppose.’
“Talking Heads” will be the Crescent’s very first production to take to the Old Rep stage and both directors feel really proud to be part of such an historic occasion.
‘It’s naturally a great honour to be asked to direct the Crescent’s first show at the Old Rep,’ says Crocker. ‘The reputation of two great theatres has been entrusted to us. It’s very exciting but also quite intimidating when one considers some of the great names who’ve taken to the Old Rep stage in the past.’
‘It’s lovely that the Crescent is now going to be part of that history,’ adds Judges. ‘The spirits of all those people who’ve gone before us to make up the Old Rep’s history will be dancing in the footlights.’
“Talking Heads” runs from 30th January to 1st February. Tickets are on sale now at www.crescent-theatre.co.uk or call our Box Office on 0121 643 5858.
LISTING
Venue: The Old Rep Theatre, Station St, Birmingham B5 4DY
Dates: Thursday 30th January to Sat 1st February
Times: 7:30pm. Additional 2:30pm matinee on Sat 1st February
Tickets: Adults £13.50, Children (under 16) £11.50