Photo credit Stamford Shakespeare Company
Our first encounter, my wife and I’s that is, with Tolethorpe Hall and the Stamford Shakespeare Company was in 2019, when my brother in law invited us to join his family outing to watch Blithe Spirit, my son had given me a ticket as a birthday present. It was an absolutely brilliant performance, with Angela Harris excelling in the role of Madam Arcarti. Since then we have made a point of making a yearly visit except when Covid intervened.
The Lady in the Van, is based on true events, Miss Shepherd drove her van into Alan Bennett’s life during 1974 remaining there within his garden for the next 15 years. Alan Bennett’s relationship with his guest, for want of a better word and Alan would no doubt have found one, was an uneasy one. He described Miss Shepherd as a “bigoted, blinkered, cantankerous, devious, unforgiving, self-centred, rank, rude, car mad cow.” The play extracts the humour from the situation, together with a profound sadness as Bennett tries to piece together the events that led to Miss Shepherd living as a tramp in a van.
Photo credit Stamford Shakespeare Company
The production was fantastic, Paul Beasley and Steve Cunningham excelled as the two versions of Alan Bennett, both had perfected Alan Bennett’s voice and I couldn’t distinguish any difference between them. Angela Harris played Miss Shepherd brilliantly. The rest of the cast were great too making it a fully satisfying performance.
Other outstanding features of the Stamford Shakespeare Companies productions at Tolethorpe, are apart from the excellent cast, costume design and professionalism of the whole team but also the fantastic set designs and construction. This year’s set was as impressive and innovative as ever.
It was a truly wonderful night out.
If you would like to see it for yourself here is the link:
Fenlandphil's Blog 
Posted by Cathy Cade on July 12, 2023 at 4:38 pm
You do get about, don’t you?
Posted by fenlandphil on July 12, 2023 at 4:41 pm
I didn’t cycle there though.
Posted by purplesandyh on July 12, 2023 at 7:00 pm
I loved the book and the film. And I love Tolethorpe, I’ve had a few special occasions there with my daughter.
Posted by fenlandphil on July 12, 2023 at 8:48 pm
I have seen the film too but I haven’t read the book.
Posted by Chris on July 12, 2023 at 9:15 pm
We went to see a production of The Lady in the Van at the New Wolsey Theatre in 2019, performed by the Gallery Players’ with Steve Taplin and Daren Nunn as Alan Bennett with Jenni Horne as Miss Shepherd, I had to check my old programme for these details. After enjoying the film with Maggie Smith I wasn’t sure that the play would do it justice but I was surprised at how good it was. Local theatre have a great deal to offer
Posted by fenlandphil on July 12, 2023 at 10:10 pm
I had seen the film too, Chris. I wasn’t sure how having two versions of Alan Bennett on the stage at the same time would work but it did. The set was a remarkable piece of engineering with two turntables and a pit. The sets themselves are a work of art.