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Post by danb on Apr 28, 2020 8:39:06 GMT
WOS reporting that the BBC are remaking the Alan Bennett ‘Talking Heads’ with an up to date cast including Imelda Staunton doing ‘A Lady of Letters’ (my absolute favourite). Others involved include Jodie Comer, Martin Freeman, Harriet Walter & Sarah Lancashire. It is to be filmed at Elstree following strict SD measures.
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Post by trapdoor on Apr 28, 2020 8:41:03 GMT
Oh wow, that’s amazing news. I was watching the second series on dvd the other day. You forget what mini-masterpieces they are. Would be great to see a new look for them, although the originals are awesome.
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Post by NeilVHughes on Apr 28, 2020 8:42:17 GMT
Talking Heads - Alan Bennett
Filming has begun on new productions of Alan Bennett’s critically acclaimed and multi-award-winning Talking Heads monologues, which first aired on BBC Television in 1988 and 1998. Ten of the original pieces will be re-made with the addition of two new ones written by Bennett last year. They are produced by Nicholas Hytner for London Theatre Company and Kevin Loader, and will air in the coming months on BBC One.
Filming is taking place at BBC Elstree Studio using existing sets. The Talking Heads production team are following the latest government guidelines on Covid-19 to ensure that the series is made safely and responsibly.
The monologues which will air on BBC One in the coming months are as follows:
Jodie Comer in Her Big Chance (1988), directed by Josie Rourke
Monica Dolan in The Shrine (2019), directed by Nicholas Hytner
Martin Freeman in A Chip in the Sugar (1988), directed by Jeremy Herrin
Tamsin Greig in Nights in the Garden of Spain (1998), directed by Marianne Elliott
Sarah Lancashire in An Ordinary Woman (2019), directed by Nicholas Hytner
Lesley Manville in Bed Among the Lentils (1988), directed by Nicholas Hytner
Lucian Msamati in Playing Sandwiches (1998), directed by Jeremy Herrin
Maxine Peake in Miss Fozzard Finds Her Feet (1988), directed by Sarah Frankcom
Rochenda Sandall in The Outside Dog (1998), directed by Nadia Fall
Kristin Scott Thomas in The Hand of God (1998), directed by Jonathan Kent
Imelda Staunton in A Lady of Letters (1988), directed by Jonathan Kent
Harriet Walter in Soldiering On (1988), directed by Marianne Elliott
(repeat of the post in the streaming thread now it has its very own)
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Post by talkingheads on Apr 28, 2020 8:46:11 GMT
I adore Talking Heads and to be honest I thought I'd be aghast at anybody else doing them but that cast? I will be binging them from beginning to end! Watching them inspired me to write to Bennett and his reply on a beautiful postcard or Leeds takes pride of place on my mantelpiece!
Also I have dreamed of seeing a new Bennett monologue and now we get two! Best news I've heard all year!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2020 9:08:34 GMT
"Filming is taking place at BBC Elstree Studio using existing sets"
I wonder if that means they will be using some of the Eastenders interior sets?
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Post by Someone in a tree on Apr 28, 2020 9:09:50 GMT
This post should be in the Spread a little happiness thread 😃👍😃👍
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Post by Polly1 on Apr 28, 2020 9:19:03 GMT
Wow, super cast. Am I right in thinking that the two they're not repeating are the ones originally performed by Dame Thora Hird? A good decision if so, my first thought was 'who will play Thora?"
Looking forward very much to these and playing spot the set!
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Post by oxfordsimon on Apr 28, 2020 9:45:11 GMT
Seeing this news (which is very welcome), I was surprised to realise that I never watched the second season. I have no idea why - given that I loved the first (and had the script book)
There are some favourite actors on the list.
And to answer the 'Who will play Thora?' question...
I can see why they chose not to - but surely if they could have made it work, Patricia Routledge would have been the leading candidate. She has such an affinity with the author that it would have been a wonderful link back to the originals.
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Post by talkingheads on Apr 28, 2020 9:54:21 GMT
Wow, super cast. Am I right in thinking that the two they're not repeating are the ones originally performed by Dame Thora Hird? A good decision if so, my first thought was 'who will play Thora?" Looking forward very much to these and playing spot the set! I wonder if the reason aside from that is that Cream Cracker is profoundly depressing, especially in the current climate of isolation. A shame in some ways as for me it's the best monologue of them all but equally I genuinely don't think Thora Hird could possibly be bettered. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2020 11:25:43 GMT
According to the media interviews, it's because they didn't want to put actresses aged 80+ at risk so eventually decided that they couldn't do those two pieces.
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Post by talkingheads on Apr 28, 2020 11:36:42 GMT
Very good point being made on Twitter is why we don't have these brilliant actors taking on some new writing? As much as I love Bennett I am inclined to agree, it literally couldn't be a better time with writers able to dedicate more time than ever to crafting their scripts
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Post by crowblack on Apr 28, 2020 11:44:15 GMT
On a related note, there have been many great, simply staged monologue/two hander performances recently that could easily be recorded within existing restrictions, and with their original cast actors, many of whom are fantastic emerging talents.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Apr 28, 2020 12:41:34 GMT
Very good point being made on Twitter is why we don't have these brilliant actors taking on some new writing? As much as I love Bennett I am inclined to agree, it literally couldn't be a better time with writers able to dedicate more time than ever to crafting their scripts But there is also something special about taking a much loved set of classics and giving them a new spin This is, of course, being done for the BBC - so they want to get the biggest audience possible. They have done new writing monologues in recent years (queers. being a notable example) - but they were a BBC4 type offering IIRC - this is more of a BBC2 project - so needs to be a bit more mainstream. |
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Post by distantcousin on Apr 28, 2020 12:49:50 GMT
The most surprising one is Maxine taking on Mrs Fozzard - WAY younger than Pat Routledge was when she played the role. Will it work?!
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Post by theglenbucklaird on Apr 28, 2020 12:55:09 GMT
Together the tenderness cries. Amazing news
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Post by oxfordsimon on Apr 28, 2020 12:59:51 GMT
What would be even more lovely would be to show the originals again (or at least put them on iPlayer) - comparing the interpretations would be a great way to experience the writing in detail.
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Post by lynette on Apr 28, 2020 13:24:55 GMT
Quality.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2020 13:32:41 GMT
I've got the originals on DVD and they are amazing - completely mesmerising.
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Post by craig on Apr 28, 2020 14:14:21 GMT
The originals are probably what made me appreciate acting as a youngster. My mum was a big fan of them.
I'm SO excited for this. What a wonderful venture and what a stellar cast.
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Post by alicechallice on Apr 28, 2020 14:35:42 GMT
The most surprising one is Maxine taking on Mrs Fozzard - WAY younger than Pat Routledge was when she played the role. Will it work?! I'll be throttled by Alan for this but I was rather too old for the part at the time - 69, since you asked. Miss Fozzard is most definitely middle-aged but still in gainful employment, so could still be played convincingly by a younger woman. She'd just need to bring enough "northern spinster" to the role. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2020 16:02:06 GMT
Filming is taking place at BBC Elstree Studio using existing sets. Probably for the best. It's so much more convenient than using sets that don't exist. |
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Post by Jon on Apr 28, 2020 16:10:09 GMT
What would be even more lovely would be to show the originals again (or at least put them on iPlayer) - comparing the interpretations would be a great way to experience the writing in detail. I suspect the originals are considered too ancient for BBC One, iPlayer is possible though, |
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Post by danb on Apr 28, 2020 18:02:28 GMT
What would be even more lovely would be to show the originals again (or at least put them on iPlayer) - comparing the interpretations would be a great way to experience the writing in detail. I suspect the originals are considered too ancient for BBC One, iPlayer is possible though, If they can get away with still showing Dads Army at primetime on a Saturday night (BBC2 but primetime) they can certainly whack TH up onto iplayer. |
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Post by peggs on Apr 28, 2020 19:44:04 GMT
How exciting. I have seen some but I am sure not all of the originals, would be lovely to have the opportunity.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Apr 29, 2020 5:37:41 GMT
I re watched the originals around 5 ish years ago and found to be excellent. They haven't dated.
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