Talking Heads

Tyldesley Little Theatre kick off 2025 with Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads directed by Danny Tooby. Bennett’s keen observation about loneliness is very evident in these monologues - many a famous person has taken to screen and stage to perform this well-known Yorkshire wit. It is firmly set in a past era with references to Stead and Simpson shoe shops, Olympia and the unconscious bias of racism, that you’re never sure how extreme it will be. This still works as a piece of theatre for the modern-day audience. Danny chose to have all three scenes integral to the set and use all three actors in the cross of scenes in freeze frame. The set consisted of three rooms, all with curtained windows and the use of muted colours. In the centre was the set for A Chip in The Sugar, with single bedside table with picture and busy bedspread. Stage Right was the set for A Lady of Letters which had a writing bureau with chair, lamp, cup and saucer, various books, papers and picture on the wall. Her Big Chance set  Stage Left was dressing table filled with various things you would expect to find - a director’s chair and a picture of Judy Garland on the wall. Set Construction was Eddie Stanley, Andy Haymes and Ian Hunter. Set decoration was Peter Hood. Props were by Joanne Hibbert and Paul Whur. Lighting and Sound all added to the scenes, and the prison bars were noted for A Lady Of Letters’. Lighting Design by Pete Gower and Operation by Jenny Whur and Jenny Ackerley. Sound by Paul Whur.

Costume and hair all looked appropriate and of the period. Wardrobe by Alex Haymes. Hair by Danny Tooby.

Danny Tooby directs and the cast is small. At the end of the evening, you think wow three people just delivered that to an audience. The massive monologues that the cast get to grips with are all mutually independent but all focus on loneliness. The pace was kept up well and at no times dipped, allowing the pathos to come through.

The first we saw was Karen Ward taking on Irene Rudduck in A Lady of Letters. We soon get the gist of Irene as at every point she uses her pen as a weapon and always has to have the last letter - even writing to Buckingham Palace at one point. There is a not very nice side to Irene as she makes judgements based on thin air and once that is in her mind you don’t stand a chance against her. She often refers to her mother and it very clear her need to be noticed. Finding her true place in prison she making herself useful (I can just imagine her fitting in). Karen using the audience to talk to was a good skill and bringing you into her world. Her curtain-twitching and reporting was handled well, I did just wonder at her final exit when she crossed over to stage left as that threw me a bit as they had established their areas so well, then I thought was that to denote that she was going to prison (I was unsure)? Karen gave us Irene in full splendour throughout with all the laughs. Loved the swearing and getting that wrong!

Nicholas Worthington was Graham in A Chip in the Sugar, originally played by Bennett himself. I must say I did a double take: Nicholas looked completely different as the character and sounded very much like the author. Graham has quite a journey in his monologue and it’s clearly hinted at his having mental issues or some sort of breakdown. He likes to do the same things and when that is taken away from him by his mother going rogue, he is completely hit for six. We are privy to all his mother’s little foibles and yet we can clearly see how much he thinks of her. Nicholas plays Graham sympathetically allowing the lines to flow and the story to be told. His little looks to where his mother is before he tells the next tale of what she has done or said really set the scene, Loved the story of the vicar and the pumps. A well thought out character.

Last but not least is Alex Haymes as Lesley in Her Big Chance. Of all of them this was the most disturbing and sad. A young woman desperate to be liked and in work as an actress is constantly taken advantage of and it really does make you think of the #MeToo movement. Lesley sees the good in everyone The Animal Handler, Gunther, Simon and many more (thank goodness we now have to have intimacy coordinators for these young women on set). It’s only towards the end you think she may not be convinced herself by her upbeat persona. Alex’s use of the word ‘interesting’ and saying her ‘hobby is people’ brought out the comedy. Alex was able to ramp it up a gear when excited about giving ideas for acting which were clearly not wanted, to the softer moments when they have all left her at the hotel and gone out for a meal. She writes them a postcard and leaves it at the hotel, which is so sweet, it makes your heart bleed. A good use of storytelling.

Thank you, Tyldesley Little Theatre, for the invite and hospitality from Matthew and I, you must be delighted with the results of this play.

Liz Hume-Dawson

District 5 Rep

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