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Not everyone could cope with an eccentric old lady living in a battered van in the drive of their home for fifteen years but that is what writer Alan Bennett did: and he documents his very odd long-term relationship with “Miss Shepherd” and the frustrating and hilarious encounters with neighbours, doctors and the social services in his diaries. Bennett has now turned these anecdotal diary notes into a stage play which I didn’t feel worked as well as I had heard it did. It is probably sacrilegious of me given the great esteem in which Alan Bennett is held by people, myself included, to say it but I personally feel the play is wordy, at times repetitive, and definitely over-long.

The evening was saved for me by the way Bawds met the challenge of this play: which they did marvellously well. They provided a visually stunning set with a mesmerising backcloth (painted by students of Anglia Ruskin University’s theatre design course) and a fantastically believable van which even changed colour! (courtesy of Tony Broscomb and the Penguin Club). The lighting, sound and props were excellent and costumes just right. Under Richard People’s firm directorial hand the acting was beyond reproach Barry Brown and Dave Foyle as the two Alans were totally believable and, much of the time, worked as one. In fact Barry Brown gave such a realistic impersonation of Bennett’s voice it was quite spooky. Rosemary Eason was a stunning success as Miss Shepherd: the thought which had gone in to the characterisation and clothing (especially the hats and socks) was impressive. The ten other very minor roles were played with confidence by good strong actors adding to the overall strength of the acting.

Whilst there was much to commend from the production point of view sadly, for me, the play itself did not live up to expectations.

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