The indominable Miss Shepherd pulls into the Robin Hood Theatre this week with the true-life story of The Lady In The Van.
The latest offering by Robin Hood Theatre Company runs at the Averham theatre until Saturday.
It is the true story of how a seemingly vagrant woman moved on to the driveway of famous playwright Alan Bennett for three months in 1974 and ended up staying for 15 years!
This play, by Alan Bennett, gradually reveals more about the mysterious past of Miss Shepherd – if that is her real name – and the relationship between her and Bennett, the other neighbours, and authority figures like her social worker, in a series of scenes stretching over the years.
It can hardly be described as action-packed but is instead a wonderfully written (as you would expect) heart-warming look at an unlikely relationship between two very different individuals.
For this play, Alan Bennett is played by two actors showing the two sides of the writer’s personality as he deals with the unwanted guest. Andrew Beighton and James Fry work well together, doing well to navigate the often complicated dialogue of the playwright.
But, without doubt, the key role in this production is Miss Shepherd, played with perfection by Faye Hemingway. She really captures the character of the obstinate, determined and increasing frail Miss Shepherd with just the right amount of comedy.
They are supported by Yvonne Cockayne (Bennett’s mam) Dave Baliol-Key, Janina Sulek and Pepe the dog (Bennett’s neighbours) Sarah Beresford (social worker) Lindsey Clarke (ambulance driver) Clive Harmston (Underwood) Nick Timms (mam’s doctor) Dave Heason (lout/doctor/priest) Mike Follen (Leo Fairchild) and George Maddison (undertaker).
Directed by Tim Hodge, it is an excellent end to the latest Robin Hood season. Make sure you catch it before The Lady In The Van drives off.
