Imelda Staunton and Maxine Peake perform Talking Heads in Leeds and Sheffield

In a massive coup for Leeds Playhouse and Sheffield Theatres two of the nation’s best actors Imelda Staunton and Maxine Peake will be performing two of Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads monologues in his native Yorkshire.

The transfers of Staunton in A Lady of Letters and Peake in Miss Fozzard Finds Her Feet from the Bridge Theatre are a show of solidarity with the two Yorkshire venues by the performers and the creative teams of these two pieces. For these performances, as at the Bridge, Alan Bennett has generously waived his royalty.

During April and May while the Bridge Theatre was closed the London Theatre Company worked with the BBC to produce two of the iconic monologues, which were then broadcast on BBC One in June.

Leeds Playhouse has already announced Connecting Voices, a collaboration between Leeds Playhouse and Opera North which runs 2^nd – 17^th October. The performances of Talking Heads will form part of the following season, running from 19^th October, and the full details of which will be announced at the end of September.

“It is wonderful that these highly acclaimed actors are willing to support regional theatre in this way ¬– bringing their talent to the Playhouse stage and their support to our cities,” says Leeds Playhouse Artistic Director James Brining.

“Imelda and Maxine are cherished throughout the country and their performances will bring joy and excitement after the long months of closure.  Alan Bennett is, of course, a Leeds icon and we are grateful to him and the Bridge Theatre for enabling these very special performances to take place.”    

In line with current government guidelines, audiences will be of limited capacity with social distancing and temperature checking will also be in place at each of these theatres.

Lady of Letters / Miss Fozzard Finds Her Feet, Leeds Playhouse, 12^th – 14^th November

Tickets are on sale to Brooke Club members, Priority Access members and Playhouse Pass holders from Wednesday 30^th September, with tickets on general sale on Tuesday 6^th October.

Box office 0113 213 7700 | Book online www.leedsplayhouse.org.uk  

Lady of Letters / Miss Fozzard Finds Her Feet, Sheffield Crucible Theatre, 9^th – 11^th November

The Together season goes on sale to members from 30^th September and on general sale from 6^th October. Book online www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk