Alan Bennet's
The Lady in the Van
Directed by Sarah Esdaile
In Hull ‘Nichola McAuliffe is genuinely unsettling as Miss Shepherd’ – The Stage, 13.4.11 ‘Hull Truck’s production has its spectacular set pieces…but its power lies in the way that Bennett’s inner thoughts are so convincingly portrayed’ – The Stage, 13.4.11 ‘five stars’ – What’s On Stage, 13.4.11 ‘delightful and eccentric’ – What’s On Stage, 13.4.11 ‘Interaction between the two Alans is simply riveting’ – What’s On Stage, 13.4.11 ‘Nichola McAuliffe’s performance as Miss Shepherd is engaging’ – What’s On Stage, 13.4.11 ‘If there is such a thing as ‘must-see-theatre’ then this is it’ – What’s On Stage, 13.4.11 ‘deftly steered by director Sarah Esdaile’ – Yorkshire Gig Guide, 14.4.11 ‘Nichola McAuliffe simply became Miss Shepherd’ – Yorkshire Gig Guide, 14.4.11 ‘wittily and sensitively tells the story of a remarkable woman’ – Yorkshire Gig Guide, 14.4.11 ‘a beautiful production by Hull Truck Theatre’ – Yorkshire Gig Guide, 14.4.11 ‘I recommend a drive to Hull Truck for a delightful and uplifting evening out’ – Yorkshire Gig Guide, 14.4.11 ‘All three central performances are impressive’ – The Press (York), 19.4.11 ‘highly humorous, yet sincere production’ – The Press (York), 19.4.11 ‘five stars’ – Dig Yorkshire, 19.4.11 ‘There were so many stand out features to this performance that it is difficult to know where to start’ – Dig Yorkshire, 19.4.11 ‘The biggest achievement of this play…was the way in which Miss Shepherd becomes a character so very close to the audience’s heart’ – Dig Yorkshire, 19.4.11 ‘a heart-warming tale’ – Dig Yorkshire, 19.4.11 ‘wonderfully witty drama’ – Hull Daily Mail, 20.4.11 ‘Nichola McAuliffe perfectly captures the odorous, mysterious and downright delusional Miss Shepherd’ – Hull Daily Mail, 20.4.11 ‘It’s a pitch-perfect performance’ – Hull Daily Mail, 20.4.11 ‘Both Alans are beautifully played and capture the essence of the writer without falling into parody’ – Hull Daily Mail, 20.4.11 ‘This funny, prickly and occasionally heartbreaking drama, with its sparkling dialogue and hugely talented cast, is as good as anything you will see in the West End’ – Hull Daily Mail, 20.4.11 Or just ‘as good as anything you will see in the West End’ – Hull Daily Mail, 20.4.11 ‘the best thing I’ve seen at Truck in yonks’ – Hull Daily Mail (Ian Midgley’s column), 20.4.11 ‘A cracking, funny and touching show – go to see it if you can’ – Hull Daily Mail (Ian Midgley’s column), 20.4.11 ‘the play presents a hilarious catalogue of Miss Shepherd’s foibles’ – Guardian, 27.4.11 Or just…’hilarious’ – Guardian, 27.4.11 ‘a star turn – or more specifically, a star three-point-turn - for Nichola McAuliffe’ – Guardian, 27.4.11 Or just…’a star turn’ – Guardian, 27.4.11 ‘McAuliffe…bestows her with a dignified, almost regal air’ – Guardian, 27.4.11 ‘James Holmes…captures the coruscating wit of the writer brilliantly’ – Yorkshire Post, 22.4.11 ‘Paul Kemp, the ‘real life’ Bennett captures something of the gentle soul of the writer’ – Yorkshire Post, 22.4.11 ‘Nichola McAuliffe steals the show as Miss Shepherd’ – Pocklington Post, 21.4.11 ‘Along with the strong acting performances, the clever set design showing the outside wall of Bennett’s house and the filthy vehicles cluttering the garden, plus intelligent light and sound design and excellent direction from Sarah Esdaile, this made ‘The Lady in the Van’ a definite winner’ – Pocklington Post, 21.4.11 Or just… ‘definite winner’ - Pocklington Post, 21.4.11 On Tour ‘Fact and fiction blur to blissful effect in Hull Truck’s delightful new version of Alan Bennett’s play The Lady in the Van’ – Liverpool Echo, 11.5.11 ‘a substantial and entertaining two hours plus of theatre’ – Liverpool Echo, 11.5.11 ‘The writing is as crisp and clever as you’d expect from Bennett, both in its moments of laugh-out-loud humour and in its poignancy’ – Liverpool Echo, 11.5.11 ‘Sarah Esdaile directs with a conductor’s eye’ – Liverpool Echo, 11.5.11 ‘van-tastic’ – Liverpool Echo, 11.5.11 ‘two very brave men in the form of Paul Kemp and James Holmes who captured the mannerisms, pithy comebacks and gentleness that Alan Bennett has shown to his audiences all his life’ – Liverpool Uni, 11.5.11 ‘The lady in question was portrayed with an abundance of skill and certain panache by Nichola McAuliffe ‘ – Liverpool Uni, 11.5.11 ‘A fascinating look into the domestic side of Alan Bennett’ – Liverpool Uni, 11.5.11 ‘great viewing’ – Liverpool Live, 11.5.11 ‘extremely imaginative and amazing set design’ – Liverpool Live, 11.5.11 ‘a joyful gift to the city’ –Click Liverpool, 12.5.11 ‘this breathtakingly-real depiction had the audience completely enthralled’ –Click Liverpool, 12.5.11 ‘Nichola McAuliffe as Miss Shepherd delivers a truly electrifying performance’ –Click Liverpool, 12.5.11 ‘This is truly an excellent production, peppered with an abundance of laugh-out-loud moments’ – Click Liverpool, 12.5.11 ‘five stars’ – The Public Reviews, 17.5.11 ‘A truly great piece of writing with staging to match’ – The Public Reviews, 17.5.11 ‘The incomparable Hull Truck have surpassed themselves’ – The Public Reviews, 17.5.11 ‘Every element of the show is perfectly judged’ – The Public Reviews, 17.5.11 ‘A bittersweet, thought-provoking comedy. A joy.’ – The Public Reviews, 17.5.11 ‘four stars’ – City Life, 18.5.11 ‘interesting and amusing piece of theatre’ – City Life, 18.5.11 ‘an excellent performance from Nichola McAuliffe’ – City Life, 18.5.11 ‘one of Yorkshire’s best theatre companies, Hull Truck’ – City Life, 18.5.11 ‘Both funny and poignant, this is Bennett at his best’ – City Life, 18.5.11 ‘the ever watchable Hull Truck’ – This is Lancashire, 18.5.11 ‘Nichola McAuliffe is haunting and sympathetic’ – This is Lancashire, 18.5.11 ‘Paul Kemp and James Holmes provide an engaging running commentary’ – This is Lancashire, 18.5.11 ‘four stars’ – The Telegraph
‘Recommended’ – The Telegraph
‘gives you a masterclass in what regional theatre can achieve at its best’ – The Telegraph
John Godber's
April in Paris
Spring 2011 UK Tour
"...a prize of a play" The Sunday Express "...brilliantly simple powerful piece of popular theatre" The Guardian "...terrific casting"
"Angell and Peters are excellent"
"...a funny play with some great one-liners"
"...everyone needs to see this hysterically funny show"
"...unfailingly witty and gently humorous...
"...a serious point is never far behind a belly laugh"
Tim Mottershead, remotegoat.co.uk
"...had the audience in stitches"
"...this production c'est magnifique!"
Lady Chatterley's Lover
Written by D.H. Lawrence
Adapted and Directed by Nick Lane
Spring 2011 UK Tour
“I really enjoyed the performance of ‘Lady Chatterley’s Lover’ – beautifully adapted and excellent acting.”
Rosie, Waterside Arts Centre, Sale
"We all really enjoyed Lady Chatterley's on Friday. We thought it was really captivating and atmospheric and the acting was great."
Alan Dodd, Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe
"Splendid stuff. The actors were excellent and the set, lighting and especially sound first-class... More please!"
David Lindsey
Theatre Manager, Middlesbrough Theatre
Dear Nick Lane and Company,
I went with some friends, to see the play last night at the Riverhead Theatre, Louth.
The set design was very interesting and seemed to represent the ring of repression that surrounded the characters. Sir Clifford (or was it Hugh Bonneville?) sexually repressed from the very beginning of his marriage, Constance, initially trying always to be the good and supportive wife and Mellors, with his chequered past and an intelligence really too high for the life he has fallen into. The effects of the war and demands of the class system as it was then, were all beautifully highlighted. The sex scenes were very sensitively portrayed and the lighting effects helped to make the whole thing quite hypnotic.
Altogether it was a very interesting and thought provoking evening which we all thoroughly enjoyed - thank you so much. Good luck with the rest of the tour - I'm sure you'll knock 'em dead.
Best regards,
Glenna Betteridge
Sutton Theatre Company, Lincolnshire
Dear Sir,
I woud like to thank and congratulate you on the wonderful performance of 'Lady Chatterley's Lover' which I saw this evening in Halifax. I spoke briefly with the actors afterward and expressed my delight too.
What a wonderful adaptation. You really captured the passion, heartache, jealousy and sorrow of DH Lawrence. The way that Clifford was placed as narrator in the play was intriguing, as for me he has aways been the most complex and fascinating character - although, as you will know the original text tends to lead very much more from Connie's perspective. Frazer Hammill in particular was very well cast; even his alert blue eyes matched the description of the character. All actors were charismatic and delivered polished and engaging performances; very much delivering some of the text's most subtle qualities. I was moved to tears on two occasions. The love scenes were convincing and intense. It is clear that you have a deep understanding of the text.
The choreography was particularly striking and I enjoyed the smooth, almost dream-like quality to it. The pace and dialogue were top quality, and the set very creative.
A very big well done to all involved.
Best wishes,
Fran McFarlane, Hebden Bridge
