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Alan Bennett: Plays

BBC Radio dramatisations

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Alan Bennett: Plays

By: Alan Bennett
Narrated by: Full Cast, John Gielgud, Maggie Smith, Patricia Routledge
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12 full-cast BBC Radio productions of Alan Bennett’s beloved plays, starring Maggie Smith, Imelda Staunton, Judi Dench, John Gielgud, Alex Jennings, Patricia Routledge, Thora Hird, Prunella Scales and many more

Over the course of his distinguished career, Alan Bennett has received multiple awards and honours, including two BAFTAs, four Laurence Olivier Awards, two Tony Awards, an Academy Award nomination, and a British Book Award for Author of the Year in 2006.
This collection includes:

  • Forty Years On (tracks 1-4)
  • A Visit from Miss Prothero (track 5)
  • Say Something Happened (track 6)
  • Kafka's Dick (tracks 7-8)
  • Two in Torquay (track 9)
  • The Last of the Sun, with a special introduction by Alan Bennett (tracks 10-12)
  • The Madness of George III (track 13-
  • The History Boys (track 15-16)
  • An Englishman Abroad (track 17-18)
  • A Question of Attribution (track 18)
  • The Lady in the Van (track 19-20)
  • Cocktail Sticks (track 21)

©2016 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2016 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

 Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction Funny Heartfelt Witty Thought-Provoking
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Fans of Alan's work will need little prompting to download this collection of radio plays broadcast on Radio 4. There is probably something new here for everyone, as well as something very familiar that will bring much pleasure on being reheard. A more serious work "forty years on" not all of which I was able to follow begins the collection with the cast including John Gielgud. There are several plays featuring Dame Thora Hird more reminiscent of the "Talking Heads" series of monologues. One of Alan's hits, "the history boys" works very well in the Radio adaptation although I've seen it on stage and the film with the familiar cast includes James Cordon and Richard Griffiths. The final autobiographical pieces centred around his parents and feature Alan himself as well as Alex Jennings playing 'him'. Thinking of my own mother who was also a product of North Yorkshire trying to adapt to Southern sophistication Bennet's work brought me close to tears.

Bennett Bliss

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Alan Bennett is a National treasure and I hope he goes on writing plays and stories for ever. He has a real insight into what we humans are all about and conveys it thoughtfully.
The actors taking part in this audiobook played their parts extremely well and with clarity. Particularly touching was the author's homage to the late and much missed Thora Hird.
Listen to all the plays as they all have something different to offer. A real treat

A joy to listen to

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Loved the whole audiobook. All wonderful performances. Would readily recommend any of his plays etc.

Brilliant

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I love that Bennett often narrates his own plays, but not exclusively - only when it’s suitable for the story. I enjoyed nearly all of the plays (apart from the first one which is a little dry, and one about art and a spy ring that I felt didn’t translate to audio very well as I couldn’t follow the story). The plays are often very funny, and sometimes incredibly moving. Kafka’s dick is excellent, whereas Cocktail Sticks made me very emotional. I look forward to more of Bennett’s plays now that I have had such a great introduction to some of his best work.

Great introduction to Alan Bennett

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excellent narrative too. no chapter bookmarks though so don't lose your place! I loved it.

heart-felt, down to earth, and oh so true.

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