Benjamin Britten, sailing uncomfortably close to the wind with his new opera, Death in Venice, seeks advice from his former collaborator and friend, W H Auden. During this imagined meeting, their first for twenty-five years, they are observed and interrupted by, amongst others, their future biographer and a young man from the local bus station. Alan Bennett's new play is as much about the theatre as it is about poetry or music. It looks at the unsettling desires of two difficult men, and at the ethics of biography. It reflects on growing old, on creativity and inspiration, and on persisting when all passion's spent: ultimately, on the habit of art.T01240553784Producer Original Theatre Company. Producer Anthology (in association with Peter Stickney and York Theatre Royal). Director Philip Franks. Design Adrian Linford. Lighting Johanna Town. Sound Max Pappenheim. Director Joyce Nettles (casting director). Performer Matthew Kelly (WH Auden / Fitz). Performer David Yelland (Benjamin Britten / Henry). Performer Veronica Roberts. Performer Robert Mountford. Performer John Wark. Performer Jessica Dennis. Performer Benjamin Chandler. | |
| 18 May 20 to 23 May 20 | Northcott Theatre, Exeter :: V886 listing details L01354078123 |
| 11 May 20 to 16 May 20 | Theatr Clwyd, Mold :: V810 listing details L01500351964 |
| 4 May 20 to 9 May 20 | Fairfield Halls, Outer London :: V295 listing details L0833897585 |
| 27 Apr 20 to 2 May 20 | Theatre Royal, Bath :: V854 listing details L0655867770 |
| 6 Apr 20 to 11 Apr 20 | Curve, Leicester :: V830272338 listing details L660785304 |
| 23 Mar 20 to 28 Mar 20 | Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham :: V90 listing details L610184515 |
T0436567026Producer York Theatre Royal. Producer Original Theatre Company. Director Philip Franks. Design Adrian Linford. Lighting Johanna Town. Performer Matthew Kelly (WH Auden / Fitz). Performer David Yelland (Benjamin Britten / Henry). Performer Veronica Roberts (Kay). Performer Robert Mountford (Neil). Performer John Wark (Donald). Performer Alexandra Guelff (George). Performer Benjamin Chandler (Tim). | |
| 27 Nov 18 to 1 Dec 18 | Malvern Theatres, Malvern :: V01718852442 listing details L897506491 |
| 19 Nov 18 to 24 Nov 18 | Southend Palace Theatre, Westcliff-on-Sea :: V43 listing details L1405520645 |
| 12 Nov 18 to 17 Nov 18 | The Lowry, Salford :: V0655996499 listing details L01739938249 |
| 6 Nov 18 to 10 Nov 18 | Belgrade Theatre, Coventry :: V153 listing details L0770392551 |
| 29 Oct 18 to 3 Nov 18 | Arts Theatre, Cambridge :: V19 listing details L01117770623 |
| 23 Oct 18 to 27 Oct 18 | Everyman & Playhouse, Liverpool :: V535 listing details L02111197944 |
| 15 Oct 18 to 20 Oct 18 | Richmond Theatre, Outer London :: V327 listing details L2125919245 |
| 8 Oct 18 to 13 Oct 18 | New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich :: V81 listing details L0586176755 |
| 1 Oct 18 to 6 Oct 18 | Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford :: V702 listing details L1901365951 |
| 24 Sep 18 to 29 Sep 18 | Oxford Playhouse, Oxford :: V803 listing details L01489143178 |
| 17 Sep 18 to 22 Sep 18 | Playhouse, Salisbury :: V923 listing details L196226090 |
| 11 Sep 18 to 15 Sep 18 | Theatre Royal, Brighton :: V657 listing details L01745179919 |
| 30 Aug 18 to 8 Sep 18 | Theatre Royal, York :: V954 listing details L01513774751 |
T1790716193London Amateur Premiere.Company Tower Theatre Company. Director Victor Craven. | |
| 3 Mar 15 to 7 Mar 15 | Bridewell Theatre, Inner London :: V171 listing details L01823301216 |
T148235662Producer National Theatre. Director Nicholas Hytner. Design Bob Crowley. Lighting Mark Henderson. Sound Paul Groothuis. Music Matthew Scott. Performer Desmond Barrit (W H Auden). Performer Malcolm Sinclair (Benjamin Britten). | |
| 23 Nov 10 to 27 Nov 10 | Theatre Royal, Glasgow :: V623 listing details L827264991 |
| 16 Nov 10 to 20 Nov 10 | Theatre Royal, Newcastle upon Tyne :: V570 listing details L566061078 |
| 9 Nov 10 to 13 Nov 10 | Grand Theatre and Opera House, Leeds :: V975 listing details L1872323209 |
| 2 Nov 10 to 6 Nov 10 | Theatre Royal, Nottingham :: V462 listing details L02012362328 |
| 26 Oct 10 to 30 Oct 10 | Grand Opera House, Belfast :: V548 listing details L993003427 |
| 19 Oct 10 to 23 Oct 10 | Milton Keynes Theatre, Milton Keynes :: V754 listing details L207109482 |
| 12 Oct 10 to 16 Oct 10 | Venue Cymru (formerly - North Wales Theatre), Llandudno :: V848 listing details L0153567845 |
| 5 Oct 10 to 9 Oct 10 | The Lowry, Salford :: V0655996499 listing details L0320399955 |
| 28 Sep 10 to 2 Oct 10 | Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Birmingham :: V143 listing details L01516850730 |
T01632007810Running time: 2hrs 35mins inclu. interval.Producer National Theatre. Director Nicholas Hytner. Design Bob Crowley. Lighting Mark Henderson. Sound Paul Groothuis. Music Matthew Scott. Performer Tom Attwood (Tom). Performer Desmond Barrit (Fitz / Auden). Performer Simon Bubb (Neil). Performer Danny Burns (George). Performer Selina Cadell (Kay / May). Performer Martin Chamberlain (Ralph). Performer Philip Childs (Boyle). Performer Matthew Cottle (Donald / Humphrey Carpenter). Performer Barbara Kirby (Joan). Performer Luke Norris (Tim / Stuart). Performer Leighton Pugh (Matt). Performer Malcolm Sinclair (Henry / Britten / Boyle). | |
| 14 Jul 10 to 21 Sep 10 | Lyttelton (National Theatre), West End :: V374 listing details L0552535839 |
T01703651910World PremiereProducer National Theatre. Director Nicholas Hytner. Design Bob Crowley. Lighting Mark Henderson. Sound Paul Groothuis. Performer Richard Griffiths (W.H. Auden). Performer Alex Jennings (Benjamin Britten). Performer Frances de la Tour. Performer Adrian Scarborough. Performer John Heffernan. Performer Elliot Levey. Performer Stephen Wight. | |
| 5 Nov 09 to 19 May 10 | Lyttelton (National Theatre), West End :: V374 listing details L01904087481 |
T01736642828Producer National Theatre. Director Nicholas Hytner. Design Bob Crowley. Lighting Mark Henderson. Sound Paul Groothuis. Performer Richard Griffiths (W.H. Auden). Performer Alex Jennings (Benjamin Britten). Performer Frances de la Tour. Performer Adrian Scarborough. Performer John Heffernan. Performer Elliot Levey. Performer Stephen Wight. | |
| 22 Apr 10 | Torch Theatre, Milford Haven :: V820 listing details L1815858851 |
| 22 Apr 10 to 24 Apr 10 | Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry :: V156 listing details L2037854395 |
Other listings | |
| 28 Jun 23 to 30 Jun 23 | Boulevard Theatre, Milford Haven :: V1588904176 listing details L0511686835 |
