Lynda Bellingham returns to the London stage this autumn in Philip Ridley's Vincent River, which is being staged at the Trafalgar Studio 2. Bellingham, who was for so long one of the nation's most recognisable mother figures due to her regular appearances in the Oxo adverts, plays a mother once more in the West End premiere of this two-handed drama. Vincent River runs from 30 October to 17 November (press night 7 September).
Vincent River, which was first seen at the Hampstead in 2000, concerns a woman who is visited by a teenager connected to the death of her son and tackles themes of bigotry, repression of sexual identity, loss, the family and East London.
Bellingham has become a London theatre regular in recent years, appearing in sex tourism drama Sugar Mummies at the Royal Court in 2006 and familial comedy Losing Louis at the Hampstead and Trafalgar Studio 1 in 2005. She is probably best known for her performances as television matriarchs in series including All Creatures Great And Small and Faith In The Future.
Bellingham is joined on stage by young performer Mark Field, winner of the 2005 Alan Bates Bursary Award. The production is directed by Rebecca McCutcheon.
In addition to writing plays – which include The Pitchfork Disney, The Fastest Clock In The Universe, Mercury Fur and Leaves Of Glass – Philip Ridley is also an accomplished filmmaker, poet, painter and photographer. While Vincent River runs at the Trafalgar Studio 2, Ridley's ongoing East London collection of photographs will be displayed at the venue, the first time they have been exhibited publicly.
MA