Talking Heads
Talking Heads
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Laugh Out Loud Theatre Company take on two of Alan Bennett's popular monologues from his 'Talking Heads' series.
Her Big Chance - Meet Lesley, an actress. She has just completed a video ('targeted chiefly on West Germany') in which she plays Travis, a career girl who enjoys life, spends a remarkable amount of time topless and shoots a man with a harpoon gun. She tells all, blind to the sinister undertones of her story as well as to her own self-delusions and gullibility.
A Chip in the Sugar - Graham, a middle-aged bachelor, emotionally unintelligent and chronically dependent on his mother, finds life difficult enough at the best of times. When Mother meets an old flame and seems set to marry him, Graham's old insecurities rear their ugly heads.
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Alan Bennett is a master of observation and his plays explore the inner world of people, their hopes, fears and petty grievances. They are funny, poignant, relatable and sad at the same time and are as relevant as ever in today's world. Join us for a nostalgic trip back to the eighties as we bring these vivacious, troubled and humorous characters to life.
"Natalie Castka [...] is wonderful as Lesley, energetic and engaging throughout the 50 minute monologue. Her unfaltering enthusiasm and naivety makes us both laugh with and sympathise for her as she tells of seedy directors and crew members with dubious intentions. Performed simply with just a few costume changes, this show has storytelling at its heart, and Natalie captures a sense of all the different characters in her story, while being the only person on stage."
getreading.co.uk
"What a versatile actor Tim Cole is. His performance as Graham is nuanced, sensitive and riveting. Whilst much in this monologue has the audience laughing at the absurdity of Mr Turnball, we really feel Graham’s pain and his resentment and suspicion of this man.. We can picture all the other characters too - Graham’s mother and the vicar as well as the café Mr Turnbull insists on taking them. Tim is one of those actors who always draws in the audience. We are immediately empathetic whilst also sensing the deeper meaning of his situation. Completely poignant and layered, Tim certainly does justice to Bennett’s fine writing."
The Play's the Thing Theatre Company
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"Castka was relaxed, precise and charming onstage. It's a crisp bit of writing, performed with style by Castka. The humor is both subtle and farcical, and Castka brought talent and charm to the piece."
Kansas City Star
Dates
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Friday 15th September (19:30), The Place, Bedford (**BOOK**)
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Saturday 16th September (19:30), Naseby Village Hall (**BOOK**)
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Wednesday 20th September (19:30), Duston Community Centre (**BOOK**)
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Friday 22nd September (19:30), Kettering Arts Centre (**BOOK**)
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Saturday 23rd September (19:30), Queen Victoria Hall, Oundle (**BOOK**)
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Saturday 30th September (19:30), The Wycliffe Rooms, Lutterworth (**BOOK**)