ALAN BENNETT’S
THE HABIT OF ART
TO BE FILMED AT
A CLOSED PERFORMANCE ON
WEDNESDAY 18 MARCH 2020
TO BE AVAILABLE ON DOWNLOADIn light of the most recent government advice due to COVID-19, The Original Theatre Company’s production of Alan Bennett’s THE HABIT OF ART, which was due to open at Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne on Wednesday 18 March 2020, will now perform a closed filmed performance on Wednesday 18 March 2020 at 2pm.
Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne has made the decision to close the theatre to the public, however the company of THE HABIT OF ART, having rehearsed for three weeks, still wanted to perform. The performance will be filmed and the hope is that it will be made available to audiences in due course to download.
Alastair Whatley, Artistic Director of The Original Theatre Company said, “We are so sad that our much loved production of The Habit of Art is being forced off the road in these exceptional circumstances. We all have some testing times ahead and I hope that this filmed recording will provide our audiences now at home with some welcome inspiration, entertainment and remind us all of the vital importance of art and all those who make it.”
Matthew Kelly, who plays W.H.Auden/Fitz, said, “We are all devastated by the developments and the cancellation of our show, but very happy that people will now be able to see the show…without a sanitiser.”
THE HABIT OF ART is directed by Philip Franks and stars Matthew Kelly as Fitz (W. H. Auden), David Yelland as Henry (Benjamin Britten), Veronica Roberts (Kay, the stage manager), Robert Moutnford (Neil, the author), John Wark (Donald/Humphrey Carpenter), Jessica Dennis (George, the assistant stage manager) and Benjamin Chandler (Tim/Stuart).
THE HABIT OF ART explores friendship, rivalry and heartache, the joy, pain and emotional cost of creativity. It is centred on a fictional meeting between poet W. H. Auden and composer Benjamin Britten. Bennett wrote it as a play-within-a-play – actors Fitz, Henry, Tim and Donald are rehearsing a play called Caliban’s Day under the direction of stage manager, Kay, and in the presence of the playwright, Neil. In Caliban’s Day, a fictitious meeting occurs in 1973 in Auden’s (Fitz) rooms at Oxford not long before he dies. Britten (Henry) has been auditioning boys nearby for his opera Death in Venice, and arrives unexpectedly – their first meeting in 25 years after falling out over the failure of their opera Paul Bunyan.
Alan Bennett’s THE HABIT OF ART premiered at the National Theatre in November 2009, directed by Nicholas Hytner and starring Richard Griffiths, Alex Jennings and Frances de la Tour. The National then toured the production in Autumn 2010 with a new cast led by Desmond Barrit, Malcolm Sinclair and Selina Caddell.
This production of THE HABIT OF ART has been directed by Philip Franks and designed by Adrian Linford, with lighting by Johanna Town, sound by Max Pappenheim and casting by Joyce Nettles.
We are awaiting further information from the government and theatres about the rest of the tour.
Website: www.originaltheatre.com
Facebook: @OriginalTheatre
Twitter: @OriginalTheatre #HabitOfArt
Instagram: @OriginalTheatreCompany
Running Time: 2 hours, 20 minutes (including interval)
Suitable for 12+