Paul Kemp as Alan 1 James Holmes as Alan 2
Photo by Keith Pattison

Alan Bennett's play 'The Lady in the Van' motored on to Hull Truck theatre's stage deftly steered by Director Sarah Esdaile and Tuesdays wittily gentle and beguiling performance will surely attract large audiences.

Photo by Keith Pattison
Nichola McAuliffe as Miss Shepherd

All the action takes place in Alan Bennett's study or his small garden where Miss Shepherd one day parks her van and then remains for the next fifteen years. The play wittily and sensitively tells the story of those years.

It's customary when reviewing to mention actors, yet the cast was transformed as actors vanished and the audience was drawn in to the unfolding human drama where James Holmes revealed a witty, confident, mischeivous Alan Bennett whilst Paul Kemp portrayed a timid, reserved Alan Bennett with facial expressions and body language displaying determined open mindedness and character. Together they showed different sides of the man. The writer in his imagination and the shy reserved man when confronted with his own social realities. Nichola McAuliffe simply became Miss Shepherd, vulnerable yet strong, reclusive, obstinately deluded, trucculent and infurinatingly independent.

Nichola McAuliffe as Miss Shepherd
Photo by Keith Pattison

Alan Bennett's aspiring upwardly mobile neighbours, Pauline and Rufus, played loud and brash by Emma Gregory and portrayed as over bearing and snobbish by Benedict Sandiford provide a neighbourly social view point. The mysterious stranger Fairchild who appears in the night, played evil and nasty by Martin Wimbush gives the story a plot and a mystery to be unravelled by the plays end.

Nichola McAuliffe as Miss Shepherd
Photo by Keith Pattison

The stage setting by Ben Stones, lighting by Chris Davey and sound by Peter Rice wonderfully enhance the actions of the play. The house is dark and bleak, the study a small cluttered desk and paper bin. When Miss Shepherd drove the bright yellow tattered van on stage with such aplomb and style she drew a ripple of applause from the audience.

Nichola McAuliffe as Miss Shepherd
Photo by Keith Pattison

This play wittily and sensitively tells a story of a remarkable woman and also explores how a writer represents real people, real experiences and the uneasy route through which that reality becomes fiction.

Alan Bennett may have been exploring verisimilitude, but what he gives us is simple honest human truth, a beautiful production by Hull Truck Theatre. I enjoyed this play, it's pleasure remains with me as I write. I recommend a drive to Hull Truck for a delightful and uplifting evening out.

Andrew Sugden

YorkshireGigGuide

Hull Truck Theatre

The Lady in the Van

by Alan Bennett

Directed by Sarah Esdaile

Starring Nichola McAuliffe

7 Apr 2011 - 7 May 2011 @ 7.45pm
Matinees each Wed and Sat @ 2pm (except 9th April)

Tickets

Monday-Wednesday	£15
Thursday-Saturday	£20
Concessions and Matinees	£5 off

Cast Includes

	Nichola McAuliffe as Miss Shepherd
	Paul Kemp as Alan 1
	James Holmes as Alan 2
	Tina Gambe as Social Worker / Interviewer / Lout
	Emma Gregory as Pauline / Mam’s Doctor
	Benedict Sandiford as Rufus / Lout
	Martin Wimbush as Fairchild / Underwood / Ambulance Driver
	Fiz Marcus as Mam / Priest